Ontario elementary school cancels 'Lightyear' viewing due to 'questionable content'
An Ontario elementary school planning a field trip to the movies this week deemed Disney’s Pixar film ‘Lightyear’ unsuitable for students due to “questionable content,” announcing a last minute decision to see a different movie in a letter to parents.
The animated 'Toy Story' spin-off, with main character Buzz voiced by actor Chris Evans, contains the inclusion of a brief kiss between a lesbian couple.
The field trip, organized by St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Elementary School in Hamilton, took place on June 22 and the students, ranging in age from junior kindergarten to Grade 3, were initially meant to see ‘Lightyear’ at Cineplex Cinemas.
But in a digital notice delivered to parents, the school informed parents “the movie [junior kindergarten to Grade 3] students are going to see on Wednesday, June 22 has been changed to ‘Sing 2.’”
“This change has been made from the original movie ‘Lightyear’ due to questionable content in this movie that we feel is not suitable for all of our students," the notice read.
The school, in its notice to parents, didn't specify what content it found "questionable" but offered parents the opportunity to get a refund if they no longer wanted their children to attend.
The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board confirmed to CTV News Toronto in a statement Friday this decision was made.
“The language, humour and overall content of the film was age-inappropriate and not linked to the curriculum,” a spokesperson for the school board said.
Recently, Disney has faced protests from activists and its own staff over what they described as CEO Bob Chapek's slow response in publicly criticizing Florida legislation that opponents dubbed as the “Don't Say Gay” bill.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in late March signed the bill, which forbids instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.
The moment had been earlier cut from the film but was restored after Pixar employees protested Disney's response to Florida's bill.
Earlier this month, thirteen nations and the Palestinian territory barred the Pixar film from being shown. Nations banning the film include Bahrain, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the United Arab Emirates, Disney said.
The film's stars have called the move disappointing.
With files from Phil Tsekouras and The Associated Press.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.