The new Power Rangers movie just received a rating of 18+ in Russia.
Officials are attributing the change to the presence of the LGBTQ character, calling it “gay propaganda.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Legislator Vitaly Milonov said,
If fascist ideology is banned in our country, then [movies by] the likes of [Power Rangers director] Israelite should be banned first thing,”
He went on to compare the movie to bombs planted by terrorists inside children’s toys.
Russian legislator Alexei Zhuravlev had an issue with the film even being allowed in the country at all:
Some officials don’t want to observe laws adopted by the State Duma, specifically the law banning gay propaganda among minors,”
This is not first instance of Russia adding an age restriction, because a movie depicting a LGBTQ character has been placed on it.
Legislators also considered banning Beauty and the Beast when it was announced that LeFou was gay.