This archive report was first published on 21 December 2019.
Published on December 21, 2019, a report by Yahoo Lifestyle SEA revealed that the Asian city-state had censored a same-sex kiss scene from the local release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
The film, which stars Daisy Ridley, contains a brief scene where two minor female characters share a kiss. However, the moment is omitted in the version screened in Singapore.
A spokesperson from Singapore's media regulatory agency confirmed that a short scene had been cut from the release, but did not specify which one.
"The applicant has omitted a brief scene which under the Film Classification Guidelines would require a higher rating," the spokesperson said.
The agency's decision has sparked controversy over censorship and representation, particularly in light of Singapore's conservative attitudes towards homosexuality.
Under the country's Film Classification Guidelines, films containing LGBT themes or content as a subplot may be restricted to viewers aged 18 and above, while films focusing on homosexuality may be hit with a 21-and-over age rating.
Sex between men remains technically illegal under a colonial-era law in Singapore, albeit one that is not actively enforced.
