A small movie theater is at the center of media controversy after it announced it would not show Disney’s live action Beauty and the Beast.
The Henagar Drive-in Theatre in Henagar, Alabama, is a small business committed to showing family-oriented films. Once the owners realized that Beauty and the Beast would feature Disney’s first gay character, LeFou, they took to Facebook with a notice.
“If we can not take our 11 year old grand daughter and 8 year old grandson to see a movie we have no business watching it,” they wrote in a March 2 post. “If I can't sit through a movie with God or Jesus sitting by me then we have no business showing it.”
Anticipating the backlash that was soon to follow, they continued: “I know there will be some that do not agree with this decision. That's fine. We are first and foremost Christians. We will not compromise on what the Bible teaches. We will continue to show family oriented films so you can feel free to come watch wholesome movies without worrying about sex, nudity, homosexuality and foul language.”
While some followers articulated support for the decision, others expressed anger. “Bible cherry picking. So very Christian,” one commented on the Facebook post. “Thank you for embarrassing Alabama. We don't have enough of that already,” another wrote.
“That Alabama theater is smart not to show BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, which has interracial couples and shows women reading,” writer and film critic Eric Snider sarcastically tweeted. “People would riot.”
Alex Zalben, managing editor for TV Guide and TV.com weighed in as well. “If a theater takes issue with this,” he tweeted, “then I've got some really bad news for them about the movie industry.”
Sharing Entertainment Weekly’s story on the controversy, EW’s Marc Snetiker commented: “1) The LeFou thing is SO overblown, it’s ridiculous but 2) obviously not enough to make idiots dare to be tolerant.”
Author and LGBT advocate Greg Hogben attacked parents who planned to avoid the film. "Go ahead, boycott Beauty and the Beast b/c there's a gay character," he tweeted. "It's not us that has to explain to your kids why you're shitty parents."
Prior to Henagar’s announcement, many media outlets fawned over the movie’s small LGBT nod. Slate’s Marissa Martinelli noted flaws in the ‘falling for a straight boy narrative,” but still praised the film’s “milestone in queer visibility,” while actor Josh Gad, who plays the questioning LeFou, simply added: “I’m honored to have that moment as part of my character’s arc.”
