I was sitting in the movie theater with my daughters, Isabella (10) and Lillian (8), and was anxiously awaiting this “exclusive gay” scene that the director of the movie, Bill Condon, said was coming. Then the movie was over, the credits ran, and I was confused. I hadn’t gone to the bathroom. I didn’t leave to get more popcorn, or refill our drink. I didn’t even so much as nod off for two seconds. So HOW DID I MISS THE MONUMENTAL GAY SCENE that led Franklin Graham to call for a boycott/ban of the movie?!!!
The answer:
Because there isn’t one.
Spoiler alert folks! The “scene” they’re talking about happens in the last few minutes of the movie, where two guys dance together. BUT WAIT MIRANDA. They must’ve been grinding, right? Not even close. They must’ve been making out while dancing?! Wrong again! They must’ve been groping each other?! Nope. Their hands were above the equator.
The two guys were dancing with ladies at the ball, and you know when you switch partners mid-dance (let’s think of square dancing), and you end up with the other person’s partner? Well, that’s what happened here, but it ended up being two guys as partners. NO WAY! But listen closely yall. While they were dancing, they actually LOCKED…
wait for it…
EYES.
Yep. They locked eyes. And it lasted 1.9 seconds (seriously, I timed it). The entire GAY SCENE lasted less time than it takes me to sneeze. I really hope you’re not offended by my retelling of this CRAZY scene. One that people are SO MAD ABOUT that they can’t even support Disney anymore. The one that they are claiming to be a “slippery slope,” that opens the door to a PLETHORA of gay characters. One that they refuse to take their children to because they don’t want to have to explain what GAY means. {shudder}
So imagine my shock when we got to the credits, and I STILL hadn’t seen anything I needed to explain to my kids?!!!! I felt bamboozled! I questioned if they sent us the version they’re showing in Malaysia, where they had to cut the GAY SCENE out?!!! Excuse me AMC…did yall get the wrong copy?! I clearly missed a MAJOR part of the movie.
Please tell me you are picking up on my sarcasm?
Let’s just say, I’ve seen more affection, than that scene had, watching two guys celebrate a touchdown of their favorite team. I’ve seen more sexual tension in a high five/bro hug. I’ve seen more action in a trust fall.
Bottom line…maybe you’re the type to not welcome a gay character in a Disney movie, but Beauty and the Beast is NOT the mountain you should be willing to die on to get your point across. And here’s something to consider…maybe don’t blindly boycott a film based on what someone else says? Dig for information. Make sure you have the actual facts. I suggest seeing it first BEFORE you decide what it does or doesn’t have in it. Weird, I know. 😉
In fact, if ANY group could be pissed/shocked/underwhelmed, I’d think it would be the LGBTQ community? I’m curious to hear their thoughts, more than anyone else’s.
Anyways, the movie was great! I had never seen the original (I know I know), so it was all a whole new world (wrong movie? 🙂 ) for me!!! The songs were wonderful, the characters were perfect, the special effects were stunning…I simply LOVED it!
And by the numbers, it doesn’t look like the boycott is affecting Disney’s pockets at all!
I am so glad you spoke up about this. There are so many more terrable things going on and being said that EVERYONE should be upset about. This movie is not one of them.
Isn’t that the truth Mary?!!! This was much ado about nothing IMHO! XOX
You have to see the original now 😊It is so good. I can’t wait to see the new one.
I promise I will! I want to see what was similar and what was different! Thanks for reading xo
What kills me about the boycotts about the gay character in the movie, is that there were NOT boycotts before the director said anything about the issues of plotting to murder (Gaston to Beast), the blatant Stockholm Syndrome, and of course, the bestiality.
I really can’t stand when Christians decide to be “buffet Christians” – picking and choosing what they want to believe in.
I am a devout Christian and bought my ticket for the movie WEEKS ago, and saw it opening night.
My point is – if you are going to boycott something due to religious beliefs – GREAT. That is your right as an American. But don’t just pick and choose an issue, when there are BLATANT other sins that you choose to ignore.
🙂 Wonderful article and have a great day!
For reals girl!!! agreed! Have a great day, and thank you for reading! xo
Jackie, I’m not out to point fingers or judge anyone, but the fact of the matter is that Christians aren’t “picking and choosing” what to believe in. Some do though, and I believe that is a matter of their hearts and understanding. The closest, most intimately beautiful relationship on earth is between a man and woman and began with man and woman created by God’s own hand in his own image created for togetherness (Genesis 1:27, Gen. 2:18-25) So there are people who “pick and choose” their beliefs about God and Scripture and some are moral issues that they define as sin, but there are also true Christians who are called to love God with our hearts, soul, and mind and one of the ways we can do that is by reading and studying God’s word to know what is sin and how we are to live (no Christian is perfect btw, but God does call us to be “holy” for he is “holy” (1Peter1:16)…that is where sanctification and the pursuit of holiness comes in) and another way we can live as Christians is by not calling out others in anger or disgust when we see sin or act like it’s a complete surprise (like we see a lot of with this movie). You’re absolutely right to realize that the boycotts are ridiculous because any true Christian would look at this and not be totally taken back by it. I think that some care a bit much about the idea of disney having a “gay” character and the image it portrays to them. They might be too focused on this because maybe they have bitterness and anger towards people who aren’t believers. Totally the wrong image! To be a bit bold, to be gay is total sin, but they’re taking it a bit too far, in my opinion. If we wanted to take our children to see it we could just simply talk to them about this like you mentioned and at this point we might as well because it’s grown to be a big issue towards some while other believers won’t seem to bat an eye over something that has been on the rise for quite some time now. As parents who want to raise our children up to be lovers of Christ we need to explain why people are reacting the way they are because it will come up in chat with friends and classmates I’m sure. Sorry for the rambling. You are totally right. A lot of believers do seem to pick and choose what to believe when they react so angrily and act surprised towards sin, but this issue doesn’t fall into the “pick and choose” category as it IS sin just like killing is and other horrible things that are done to people in this world. Sin is sin no matter the impact.
One correction – it was Franklin Graham not Billy Graham who called for the boycott. He is such a pot stirrer
You are correct! I have edited it to get the name right! Pot stirrer for sure! I just wish he would watch the movie, and tell me his honest thoughts. And see if he would retract his statements. One could hope 🙂