Barbie Expected to be Banned in Lebanon for "Promoting Homosexuality"

Barbie has been bubbling up controversy since before it was released. With Vietnam announcing it would be banning the film due to its depiction of a map featuring the nine-dash line, the $1 billion grossing movie has slowly been getting pulled from release in countries.

Now poised to join the ban on Barbie is Lebanon after Kuwait announced it would be going ahead with banning the film.

Culture minister in Lebanon, Mohammed Mortada, said the film "promotes homosexuality and sexual transformation" and "goes against moral and religious values in Lebanon".

Mortada also said the film calls "for the rejection of patriarchy".

Kuwait has also banned the recent A24 horror film, Talk to Me over the inclusion of trans actor Zoe Terakes. Responding to the ban, Terakes made a statement on Instagram, saying, "If there are queer or trans themes or scenes in your film, it's probably not gonna make it to the Gulf."

KUNA (Kuwait News Agency) said in a statement about banning both Barbie and Talk to Me that "The decision stemmed from keenness on protection of public ethics and social traditions".