China to release ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ with LGBTQ content censored

“Bohemian Rhapsody” will be given a limited release in China staring mid-March but the film will be censored for LGBTQ and drug content.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, footage of Freddie Mercury (Rami Malek) kissing other men will be removed from the film. Scenes depicting drug use will also be edited out of the film. Overall, an estimated one minute of footage will be cut.

Although the film will be on a limited release, if the movie is popular enough it could receive a wide release.

The news comes after China censored Rami Malek’s acceptance speech for Best Actor at the Academy Awards.

“We made a film about a gay man, an immigrant, who lived his life just unapologetically himself,” Malek told the audience.

In the translation subtitles, a China-based live streaming website switched the words “a gay man” to “a special group.”

China does not have an official policy on LGBTQ content in media but LGBTQ content is frequently edited out of TV shows and films.

The Beijing International Film Festival had scheduled a screening of “Call Me By Your Name” but the film’s screening was canceled.

However, China did allow “Beauty and the Beast” to be screened in the country in 2017 with a “gay moment” between LeFou and Gaston.

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