November 8, 2021
Out 'Eternals' Star Haaz Sleiman Praises Disney's Refusal to Cut Gay Scenes
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Out "Eternals" star Haaz Sleiman praised Disney and said the studio's refusal to cut scenes in order to suit homophobic nations made censorious countries look "ignorant and pathetic," Just Jared reported.
"They stood their ground and said, 'Nope, we are not going to compromise the integrity of our film," Sleiman said.
The film has "subsequently been banned in countries including Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia," UK newspaper the Daily Mail noted. "The film was supposed to debut in those countries November 11."
"It made these Arab countries looks so ignorant and pathetic," Sleiman said of Disney's refusal to back down. "Hopefully this will inspire the Saudi people, the Kuwaiti people and the people in Qatar to fight back," he added, before going on to say that fans there will find a way to see the film despite the ban.
The 45-year-old actor made his comments during an interview with Variety, which noted that "Movies containing LGBTQ+ content are often cut to appease international censors around the world."
But not this time.
"The same-sex relationship in 'Eternals' is reportedly essential to plot and development of superhero Phastos," EDGE reported on Nov. 4.
"In the Chloé Zhao-directed movie, Sleiman plays Ben, the husband of Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry)," Variety detailed. "Not only is Phastos the MCU's first gay superhero, but he and Ben are married and fathers to a young son."
Earlier this year, talking about the film's same-sex kiss between his character and that of Henry, Sleiman said that the moment was "beautiful" and "very moving," and added that "Everyone cried on set" when the moment was filmed.
"For me it's very important to show how loving and beautiful a queer family can be," Sleiman added.
Sleiman reiterated those sentiments, telling Variety last month that the film's LGBTQ+ representation is "Beyond a dream come true" and
"life-saving."
"I wish I had that when I was a kid, to see this," the Lebanese actor, who relocated to the U.S. when he was 21, said. "Can you imagine how many lives this is going to be saving – kids, young queer folk, who are being bullied, committing suicide and not seeing themselves being represented? And now they get to see this – it's above and beyond."
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.