Same-sex kiss cut from ‘Skywalker’ Singapore release

A brief kiss between two women in the new Star Wars movie was cut from the version released in Singapore, local media said.

The Rise of Skywalker, the conclusion to the nine Star Wars films that stars Daisy Ridley, was released in the Asian city-state recently.

The film contains a brief scene where two minor female characters share a kiss but the moment is omitted in the version screened in Singapore, according to Yahoo Lifestyle SEA.

The news site reported on Friday that the women were seen embracing but not kissing.

A spokesman from Singapore’s media regulatory agency told Yahoo and other local online media that a short scene had been cut from the release, but did not specify which one.

“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker has been rated PG13 for theatrical release in Singapore,” the spokesman said. “The applicant has omitted a brief scene which under the Film Classification Guidelines would require a higher rating.”

The agency did not immediately respond to an enquiry from AFP.

Under the guidelines, films containing LGBTQ+ themes or content as a subplot may be restricted to viewers aged 18 and above, while films focusing on homosexuality may be hit with a 21-and-over age rating.