Faithwire
  • Watch
  • Go!
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • SCOTUS
  • Life
  • Religious Liberty
  • News
  • Politics
  • Faith
  • Opinion

Samoa Bans Elton John Biopic ‘Rocketman,’ Says Movie Clashes with Country’s ‘Christian Beliefs’

Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
Share Tweet
By Tré Goins-Phillips
Editor

June 12, 2019

The Pacific nation of Samoa has banned the Elton John biopic “Rocketman” over the film’s inclusion of an explicit sex scene involving two men.

Nearly all of Samoa — 97 percent — identifies as Christian, according to The Guardian, and the country is considered to be fairly conservative and traditional in its views on social issues. In addition, homosexual acts are illegal in the small country, though the laws are not strictly enforced.

Leiataua Niuapu Faaui, principal censor for Samoa, told the Samoa Observer the movie about the prolific entertainer contradicts the country’s “culture and our Christian beliefs.”

Three words: Pop culture icon. ?
Check out this exclusive clip from #Rocketman starring @TaronEgerton as @EltonOfficial.
In theaters and available for pre-order today! https://t.co/6Fo9rK883k pic.twitter.com/hlVnydz7mf

— Apple TV (@AppleTV) May 31, 2019

Faaui did, however, admit the film, starring Taron Egerton as Elton John, is “a good story, in that it’s about an individual trying to move on in life.”

Ultimately, though, Apollo Cinemas in Samoa announced via social media it would have to pull “Rocketman” from its screens “due to censoring issues.”

As Alyssa Milano’s Hollywood Georgia Boycott Gains Steam, One Production Company Is Doubling Down

“He [Elton John] went through a difficult family life and managed to move on and become very successful,” the censor said. “But there are acts that are not good for public viewing and against the law.”

Anything else?

While Samoa has pulled “Rocketman” from distribution, it’s worth noting the island nation allowed distribution for “Bohemian Rhapsody,” a film chronicling the life and career of Freddie Mercury, who was also gay.

“Bohemian Rhapsody,” while it dealt with issues related to homosexuality, did not feature an explicit sexual encounter.

Pro-Life Movie ‘Unplanned’ Is Heading to Canadian Theaters

Shortly before Samoa decided to ban “Rocketman,” the biopic’s Russian distributors heavily edited the movie, scrubbing it of its explicit same-sex encounter and deleting an end caption telling viewers about Elton John’s marriage to his husband, David Furnish, who, alongside the pop star, served as an executive producer for the film, and their sons, Elijah and Zachary.

In a joint statement released last week, Elton John and others involved in the making of “Rocketman” condemned Russia for censoring the film.

“We reject in the strongest possible terms the decision to pander to local laws and censor ‘Rocketman’ for the Russian market, a move we were unaware of until today,” the statement read in part.

Latest

  • culture

    ‘I Was Being Used by the Devil’: World’s Bestselling New Age Author Left It All Behind For Christ

  • News

    Leading Gender Dysphoria Expert Says Majority of Children Outgrow Sex Confusion

  • culture

    ‘I…Won’t Be Competing’: ‘Soul Surfer’ Legend Bethany Hamilton Speaks Out Against League’s New Trans Policy

  • News

    The Chosen’s Season Three Finale Lands in Top 10 in Weekend Box Office

  • Entertainment

    ‘Full-On, Openly Satanic’: Sam Smith ‘Unholy’ Grammy Performance With Devils, Horns Called ‘Diabolical’


Sponsored
Sponsored

Newsletter
Signup

Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • ‘I Was Being Used by the Devil’: World’s Bestselling New Age Author Left It All Behind For Christ
  • Leading Gender Dysphoria Expert Says Majority of Children Outgrow Sex Confusion
  • ‘I…Won’t Be Competing’: ‘Soul Surfer’ Legend Bethany Hamilton Speaks Out Against League’s New Trans Policy
  • The Chosen’s Season Three Finale Lands in Top 10 in Weekend Box Office
  • ‘Full-On, Openly Satanic’: Sam Smith ‘Unholy’ Grammy Performance With Devils, Horns Called ‘Diabolical’

Archives

  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016

Categories

  • Christian Persecution
  • Coronavirus
  • culture
  • Culture
  • Entertainment
  • Faith
  • Faith
  • Family
  • George Floyd
  • Go!
  • Israel
  • Life
  • Life
  • Lifestyle
  • Media
  • Men
  • Mission Haiti
  • News
  • News
  • Opinion
  • P.O.V
  • Politics
  • Politics
  • Sponsored
  • Sports
  • Virtue
  • Women

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Navigation

  • Watch
  • Go!
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Staff
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Sign up to get our newsletter your inbox every day.

Newsletter Signup

Do you want to read
more articles like this?