The Pacific nation of Samoa has banned the Elton John biopic “Rocketman” because of its depictions of homosexuality.
Under Samoa’s laws, sodomy is illegal and punishable by up to seven years in prison. The country’s principal censor told local media that the film did not “go well with cultural and Christian beliefs here”.
Samoa’s principal censor, Leiataua Niuapu Faaui told the Samoa Observer on Tuesday that the homosexual activity depicted on screen violated laws. Also, it didn’t sit well with the country’s cultural and Christian beliefs.
The movie examines John’s sexuality and relationship with then-manager John Reid. It stars Taron Egerton who does his own singing as John that aims to capture the musician’s life.
A Russian distributor censored scenes from “Rocketman” that featured gay sex and drug use. And John wrote in a joint statement with the filmmakers that it was a “sad reflection of the divided world we still live in. And how it can still be so cruelly unaccepting of the love between two people.”
The censorship of the film has since been referred to as “hypocritical” by human rights activists inside Samoa. Where fa’afafines are recognized as a third gender. Fa’afafines – children who are assigned male at birth but raised by their families as girls – are an accepted demographic in Samoan society.
Toleafoa Chris Solomona, a cultural expert from Savaii said he has referred to the banning as “ignorant.”
“Fa’afafines are culturally accepted. Our culture is based on respect and inclusive[ness] – the censorship of this film means that we don’t accept elements of who they are, that’s just ignorant and not based on the reality of how we live.”
Elton John’s music is popular among rural Samoans island journeys.
