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People Magazine says actor "Josh Gad, who plays LeFou in Disney's new live-action Beauty and the Beast, is speaking out about the growing controversy surrounding the film's groundbreaking gay moment."
Note to People: It isn't "controversy," it's "rejection."
Gad says the lesson here is about fear---people are fearful about what they don't understand. "It's about not judging a book by its cover," he explains.
I wrote about this earlier this week.
However, now it isn't only Christians who are rejecting the attempt at indoctrinating our children, the Russian government---yes, that secular, atheist Russian government, is considering banning it because it is "immoral."
It is said that "Beauty and the Beast is a tale as old as time."
The more modern version was written and published by French writer Gabrielle-Suzanne Bardot de Villeneuve in 1740, and again in a children's collection of stories in 1756.
However, universities in both Durham and Lisbon claim their research has found the story to have been told 4,000 years ago.
But it was Walt Disney and those who carried on his work who made it famous in our times.
On the 25th anniversary (Sept. 2016) of the release of Disney's modern animated version which starred the voices of Angela Lansbury (Mrs. Potts), Paige O'Hara (Belle) and Richard White (Gaston), "E" Magazine gave a lengthy account of the development of the film.
They say that version earned $425 million worldwide and "immediately became a pop culture phenomenon."
Angela Lansbury is quoted saying, "The whole thing was so unique and original and wonderful...To be a part of that, even at that time, was pretty special."
As I reported earlier this week, the new version---scheduled in theaters on March 17, is not so "special" to a growing number of informed moral people.
The film has been promoted as having a "ground breaking gay moment" in which there is a romantic exchange between the two leading men, Gaston and LeFou.
Apparently, Disney, or its marketing group, thought this would broaden the appeal, but were ignorant to, or simply had no regard for those who are not interested in having our children and grandchildren indoctrinated by a classic fairy tale.
Disney has clearly broken from the beliefs and values of its founder, Walt Disney.
Now Disney and the cast members are trying to "fix the problem."
Hopefully, this will be a "Humpty Dumpty" moment for them, and good people will stay away in droves regardless of what they may do or say in trying to "fix" matters.
Josh Gad, who plays LeFou, calls the "moment" a "subtle but incredibly effective" scene. And that's exactly why good people are saying they plan to skip it.
Gad asks that people not judge the book by its cover, saying, "There's too much fear out there," suggesting conservatives and Christians are" fearful" due to their lack of understanding.
He tells People Magazine, "But digging a little deeper and understanding to not be fearful of things you don't know or people who look different to you" is helpful---"it's about unity, it's about never judging a book by its cover," "it's about inclusiveness"--"the film has something for everyone."
And he says, "Fear is not a good thing to fuel," suggesting that is the real moral to this new version of an old tale.
As I mentioned earlier this week, Christian leaders are encouraging people to not see the film, and not to let your kids or grand kids see it.
Why would we?
It isn't only Christians---Now the Russian government is opposing it because they say it is "immoral."
The British press is reporting, "A ruling party MP in Russia has sought to have the new Disney musical Beauty and the Beast banned for peddling 'gay propaganda'."
Giving minors information about homosexuality has been illegal in Russia since 2013. Although the legislation has angered homosexual activists, the government has held its position.
The legislation describes homosexuality as "non-traditional sexual relations."
Vitaly Milonov, an MP in the ruling party, told Culture Minister Valdmir Medinsky, "In this situation, society cannot look on silently at what movie distributors are offering under the guise of a children's tale---the obvious, barefaced, unscrupulous propaganda of sin and perverted sexual relations."
Medinsky told BBC that the culture ministry would "consider Beauty and the Beast according to the law."
I sincerely hope Christians will "consider" Beauty and the Beast according to God's Word, and will deliver their children from evil.
It's ironic, is it not, that a government known for its atheism, is explaining biblical morality to America and Europe.
I'm reminded of Isaiah 42:16, "And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them."
Be Informed. Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Prayerful. Be Blessed.