Dr. Suess lover Ted Cruz has caused us to do a double-take, criticizing Hollywood for censoring scenes featuring LGBTQ content from major movies for Chinese markets.
Cruz made the charges during an appearance on Fox News to promote a new piece of legislation he calls the Script Act. The bill would block Hollywood studios from making changes to their films to appease the Chinese government.
“It really is tragic that Hollywood has been willing, over and over again, to kowtow to the Chinese communists and let the Chinese government censor American movies,” Cruz told host Maria Bartiromo. “We’re saying Maverick is afraid of the damn Chinese communists,” he added, referring to the film Top Gun.
Bartiromo then referenced the Bohemian Rhapsody fiasco, in which Fox Studios re-edited the film to remove scenes depicting Queen singer Freddie Mercury’s relationships with men.
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“The Chinese communist government wanted them to edit out part when [Freddie] was gay?” Bartiromo charged. “How do you tell the story of Bohemian Rhapsody and not say that Freddie was gay?”
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“You don’t,” Cruz spat. “But Hollywood was more than happy to edit the scene out. They did it because the Chinese government didn’t want to acknowledge that Freddy Mercury was homosexual. Look, that’s a huge part of the story! The problem is Hollywood is more interested in making millions of dollars from the Chinese market than they are in free speech, than they are in artistic integrity.”
For the record, friends and family say Mercury was happily bisexual. Cruz’s odd defense of LGBTQ content in films appears to be part of a larger Republican strategy to vilify the Chinese government. In the past, Cruz has labeled marriage equality one of the “darkest” moments in US history.
As for his sudden defense of queer visibility in movies…well, even broken clocks are right twice a day.
dannyboi2
Republicans have no decency. The Hypocrisy is deafening. The Irony Republicans scream Fake News when it’s not in their favor but when China does it, Oh No It censoring, freedom of speech, Give me a break. #VoteBlue2020 Enough with the lies.
GlobeTrotter
I abhor Hollywood bowing to Chinese demands just like any other American, but I just don’t see how such legislation could possibly be enforced. Are we now saying Congress has the right to legislate artistic freedom (i.e. free speech)? Studios can simply claim they’re exercising their freedom of speech rights to edit their films to conform to the culture of the Chinese market. Technically, there’s nothing wrong with that and their right to edit their films for specific markets is perfectly compatible with the US constitution. Morally however, it’s an absolutely reprehensible. China has been allowed to have far too much sway over our domestic affairs.
Creamsicle
I’m with you. I hate films being censored to appease the Chinese government, but this is simply unenforceable. This is just typical Republican grandstanding tactics. This is about as useful as fights over Starbucks coffee cups being too christmassy, or not christmassy enough.
This is just him taking a stand on one-sided issue so that his supporters can pat themselves on the back for agreeing with Cruz, and stop discussing covid-19 for 10 minutes.
JessPH
“even broken clocks are right twice a day.”
This is the very first time I’ve heard of this phrase. And I love it.
Kangol2
Ted Don-the-Con ButtK!sser Cruz should worry about the US GOP’s homophobia before he gets worked up about anything happening in China. Like, why is he still voting to confirm anti-gay/homophobic right-wing Republican judges? Has he ever apologized for saying the legalization of same-sex marriage was one of the “darkest days” in US history? Has he ever begged for forgiveness for his anti-gay record overall and as Texas’s Solicitor General? He is such a total hypocrite he should just go hide his pathetic @ss in a locked closet until he can even start to apologize for the anti-gay crap he’s enabled for most of his career!
eeebee333
It’s not just China. Our own country’s airlines show edited films on planes. Is this legislation going to forbid that too?
TxCudlr
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do NOT be taken or swindled by ted cruz. HE IS A DAM HOMOPHOBE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HE IS A LIAR, A CHEAT, & EVERYTHING opposite of good. Just look at EVERYTHING he did to Trump, just to get even; then later goes slithering back to trump, brown nosing him & suddenly trump is HIS BEST FRIEND!!!!!!!!!! do NOT trust what this snake says or does, for he WILL have something up his sleeve that will play n his favor to make HIM look good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! he has done this over & over & over.
GayEGO
Teddy is supporting Trump to chastise China, not to support our community.