Disney Refuses to Remove Reference to Two Moms in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

Shannen Michaelsen

Disney Refuses to Remove Reference to Two Moms in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

Xochitl Gomez will be making her debut as America Chavez in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Chavez, as a lesbian, is notable as the first Latin-American LGBTQ+ character to star in an ongoing Marvel Comics series, and will presumably still be portrayed as gay in the films.

According to Variety and The Guardian, the film is now facing difficulties with Saudi Arabia’s cinema classification board — not because of Chavez being gay but because of “barely 12 seconds” in which she refers to her “two moms.”

Nawaf Alsabhan, general supervisor of cinema classification in Saudi Arabia, told Agence France-Presse that Disney is unwilling to remove the dialogue.

“It’s just her talking about her moms, because she has two moms,” Alsabhan said. “And being in the Middle East, it’s very tough to pass something like this. We sent it to the distributor, and the distributor sent it to Disney, and Disney has told us they are not willing.”

Alsabhan said that the film will “never be banned.”

“There’s no reason to ban the film. It’s a simple edit…So far they have refused. But we haven’t closed the door. We’re still trying.”

Saudi Arabian censors have not yet issued a permit to release the film in the country since Disney did not approve the requested changes. Marvel’s “Eternals” was previously banned in the country.

After recent controversy surrounding Disney and Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, Disney allowed Pixar to add a same-sex kiss back into “Lightyear.”

“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” hits U.S. theaters on May 6, 2022.

Author

  • Shannen Michaelsen

    Shannen has been a Disney Parks fan and lover of dogs since childhood, despite Pluto's attempt to eat Shannen's Minnie Mouse doll the first time they met. They've made up now. You can email Shannen at shannen@mail.hkdrnt.com.