Forget the debate over whether “gay” and “bisexual” can be colloquially synonymous: more controversy now swirls around Rami Malek’s Oscar speech after Chinese broadcasters censored it to remove all reference to homosexuality.
The broadcast site mgtv.com, a subsidiary of the Chinese company Mango TV, posted the speech following the Oscar ceremony on Sunday night, inaccurately translating the words “gay man” to “special group.” Malek won the Best Actor award for Bohemian Rhapsody, a film about the popular band Queen. Malek, in his speech, made reference to Queen singer Freddie Mercury, saying “we made a film about a gay man, an immigrant, who lived his life just unapologetically himself.” The remarks also attracted the aforementioned criticism for Malek referring to Mercury as gay rather than bisexual.
Related: Here are 5 queer AF moments from last night’s Oscars
This isn’t the first time Mango TV has come under fire for censoring references to the queer community. Last year, the broadcaster censored songs with references to homosexuality and blurred Pride flags during the Eurovision song contest. As a result, the telecom lost the right to broadcast the Eurovision festival.
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Bohemian Rhapsody itself has come under fire for not featuring enough of Mercury’s sex life with men. Last year, Malek also came under fire for refusing to identify Mercury as a gay icon.
Invader7
So in China gay men are a “special group.” I bet they are !! Special , indeed !!
@HarryB
China authorities can censor everything they want. China model of internet.
QueerTruth
China blocks the internet and all news outlets. How can you be even slightly surprised.
I think it’s hilarious this is a “story”.
james7
IT must really burn the cast of A STAR IS BORN, who did all of their own singing; to see Malek get the oscar for lip singing to Freddie Mercury recordings. Bradley and Sam Elliot were robbed.
Greg
Singing in a movie is not a requirement to win Best Actor. You can’t rob a person of what they did not have.
startenout
Jesus Christ, are they paying you?!? You’re on every single article spouting the same nonsense. Get over it! They lost!
Bob LaBlah
Personally the music and other musicians notwithstanding I thought Freddie Mercury was a good screamer. The man could not sing worth a damn.
Bryguyf69
Er, it’s called ACTING. So tell me, is actual singing more akin to ACTING or is lipsyncing? Which is more like playing a role? Which takes more ACTING skills? You think capturing the mannerisms and lip movements of someone else is easier than actual singing? Think again. Purely on the basis of ACTING, lipsyncing takes ahelluva lot ACTING skills. This was the Oscars, not the Grammys.
Karrnal
Rami, you’re wrong. Freddie M did not live his life unapologetically. He was closeted and guilty for so many years.
MISTERJETT
Rami is adorable!!!!
MuslimSlutBox
There was only *one* reference to being gay. The headline makes it sound like there were several references to gayness, but, there was only one. It’s just Queerty overstating things again, being bombastic … again. Maybe the translator didn’t understand “gay”. IDK.