Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, December 7, 2021
From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, December 7, 2021
Six Arab countries ban Spielberg’s ‘West Side Story’ over transgender character
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSix Arab countries have banned Steven Spielberg’s new film version of “West Side Story” due to the movie including a transgender person.
The countries that will not screen the film are Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait.
The character Anybodys is played by the non-binary actor Iris Menas.
Films with LGBT characters are often censored to various degrees by Arab nations.
Directed and co-produced by Steven Spielberg, with an updated screenplay by Tony Kushner, the new film is set to hit theaters in Israel on December 9.
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
The Times of Israel Community.
JOIN THE TOI COMMUNITY
Already a member? Log in here