Thread by @koryodynasty

On Saturday, S. Korean broadcaster SBS aired "Bohemian Rhapsody". It scored the highest Lunar New Year movie viewership at 6.3%.

SBS also deleted the 2 same-sex kiss scenes with Freddie Mercury, and censored another background gay kiss by blurring it out.
news.khan.co.kr/kh_news/khan_a…

Critics have said SBS effectively distorted the essence of the film that sheds light on Freddie Mercury's life as a sexual minority and intentionally erased the existence of a sexual minority.

SBS said the "edit" was in consideration of families watching during primetime TV.

Now in English, on S. Korea's SBS censoring the gay kiss scenes in Bohemian Rhapsody: "We didn’t have any special intention in editing".

koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20…

SBS: "Even if it were a kissing scene between a man and a woman, if the scene is too risque or continues for a long period of time, making us feel that it could be uncomfortable for the families watching together, we would have edited similarly".

S. Korean civil rights group Rainbow Action Against Sexual Minority Discrimination has issued a statement about SBS deleting out the gay kiss scenes from Bohemian Rhapsody, saying it is "clear discrimination and censorship", irresponsible, and insulting.

https://twitter.com/rainbowactionkr/status/1361260086530764800

Rainbow Action: "The deleting/blurring out of the same-sex kiss scenes is the same as insulting not only the deceased but also all sexual minorities [...] Cutting out scenes related to sexual minorities in Bohemian Rhapsody completely denies Freddie Mercury's life and existence".

"The attitude of dismissing both the story and scenes of sexual minorities as violent or sensational is nothing more than censorship that shows hatred and discrimination against sexual minorities".

"SBS has abandoned its social responsibility [...] and code of ethics [...] and should come up with guidelines on how to guarantee cultural diversity and ban discrimination against minorities".

"During the Lunar New Year holiday, many sexual minorities experienced exclusion, neglect, and insult from society as soon as they learned that the Freddie Mercury kiss scenes with his lovers were deleted, and aired".

"This is the result of SBS' complacency and irresponsible judgment that ignores viewers. We urge SBS to think carefully about what it means to have cultural diversity in media".

Amnesty International has this to say on SBS censoring out the gay kiss scenes from Bohemian Rhapsody and airing the edited film:

"It is clear discrimination

Love is a Human Right"

https://twitter.com/AmnestyKorea/status/1361567101161414657

Adam Lambert, who has collaborated with Queen as lead vocalist (ie Freddie Mercury), chips in on SBS censorship of gay kisses in Bohemian Rhapsody

"And yet they’ll play Queen’s records without any hesitation. Nothing explicit or Lewd about that kiss. The double standard is REAL"

Oops my translation of Rainbow Action's statement also included in the OUT Magazine article. I recognise my words ;) Yes I will take credit ^^

out.com/film/2021/2/16…

Ok this story just keeps spreading: there's now a #bohemiankisschallenge spreading online after S. Korean broadcaster censorsed the gay kiss scenes in the film.

This is turning into a PR disaster for SBS and homophobic Korea, a victory for LGBTQ movement.
pinknews.co.uk/2021/02/17/vir…

The #bohemiankisschallenge campaign is spreading online, here's some of the instructions in English:

https://twitter.com/hihihi1987/status/1361860417740439553

Here's S. Korean gay Youtubers Mango Couple with their #bohemiankisschallenge #보헤미안키스챌린지

And another, courtesy of @HaydenRoyalty

#bohemiankisschallenge #보헤미안키스챌린지

https://twitter.com/HaydenRoyalty/status/1362221014793428993