Disney cuts same-sex kiss from 'Star Wars: The Rise of the Skywalker' in Singapore

• Disney has cut a brief scene showing two women kissing in "Star Wars: The Rise of the Skywalker" from Singapore cinemas, as reported by the BBC.
• The kiss is the first LGBTQ moment in the franchise's history, though a spokesperson from IMDA (Singapore's media regulatory body) told the BBC it would have lost its PG-13 rating had it remained in its Singapore version.
• Insider reached out to Disney for comment on Tuesday morning, but did not immediately receive a response. 
• In Singapore, same-sex marriage is not recognized and sex between men is punishable with imprisonment, but not enforced. 
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Disney has removed a brief scene where two women kiss in the latest "Star Wars" movie for Singapore audiences. 

"The Rise of the Skywalker" kiss is the first LGBTQ moment in the franchise's history, and is described by Vanity Fair as "a brief flash of two women kissing late in the movie, among a crowd of characters." 

The BBC reported that Singapore's media regulatory body (IMDA) had advised the film "would require a higher rating" if the scene was kept in.

"The applicant has omitted a brief scene which under the film classification guidelines would require a higher rating," said a spokesperson from IMDA to the BBC.

In the US, the original version is rated PG-13 but in Singapore, with the kiss omitted, it retains the same rating. 

In the Asian city-state, same-sex marriages are not recognized and gay sex is illegal.

Last month three activists began challenging the colonial-era gay sex law in Singapore's top court after India scrapped similar legislation in September 2018.

While IMDA didn't specify what rating the movie would have received if the kiss was included, 2018 gay teen rom-com, "Love Simon" was rated R1 (restricted to over 21) despite its PG-13 listing in the US. 

Representatives for Disney did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

• Read more:
• Brother of the late 'Star Wars' actress Carrie Fisher unearthed a note she wrote about death 'long ago'
• The 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' book hints Lando Calrissian may have a direct connection to a new character in the movie
• 27 celebrity cameos you probably missed while watching 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker'

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