Oklahoma theatre under fire for ‘warning’ customers over same-sex kiss in Buzz Lightyear film
Buzz Lightyear movie.The 89er Theatre sparked controversy after stating that they would ‘fast-forward through’ the brief kissing scene in Toy Story spinoff Lightyear, posting a sign as a ‘warning’ to customers.They displayed a poster in their window – which has now been removed – following the film’s release, which has been overshadowed by criticism over the kiss between two female characters, one of which is named Hawthorne and voiced by Uzo Aduba.‘Warning’, their poster began in large letters, ‘Attention parents: The management of this theatre discovered after booking Lightyear that there is a same-sex kissing scene within the first 30 minutes of the Pixar movie,’ they continued.‘We will do all we can to fast-forward through that scene, but it might not be exact.’The theatre signed off by apologising for ‘any inconvenience’ the ‘late discovery of this scene causes.’Residents of Oklahoma were both shocked and disappointed to see the sign in the cinema’s window, with 42-year-old Patricia Kasbek, 42, saying she initially thought the sign was a joke.She posted a picture of it on social media in jest, but grew outraged upon learning that the sign was real.‘After calling the theatre, asking them to remove the warning, her call went to voicemail.‘I told them that it was completely insulting for them to censor a same-gender kiss when they’ve never done this to an opposite-gender kiss,’ she told NBC News.She added that she ‘never see a movie at this theatre while under this ownership,’ branding their behaviour ‘cruel’ and ‘bigoted.’According to NBC affiliate KFOR of Oklahoma City, the sign was gone by Monday afternoon after supposedly being put up over the weekend.Alex Wade, deputy director of LGBTQ+ advocacy organisation.
