Netflix: Saudi Arabia and GCC warn streaming giant over violating 'Islamic values'
Gulf states have demanded that Netflix remove all content deemed to violate "Islamic and societal values and principles", Saudi media report, BBC reported.
Recent material, including that made for children, contravened regulations, Saudi and Gulf Co-operation Council media watchdogs warned in a statement.
It did not provide any further details.
But Saudi state TV showed blurred clips from animated show Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous, in which two teenage girls confess they love each other and kiss.
Footage from the controversial French film Cuties also featured in the report by Al Ekhbariya TV, along with a caption accusing Netflix of being "cinematic cover for immoral messages that threaten the healthy upbringing of children".
Another video on Al Ekhbariya's website alleged that the streaming service was "promoting homosexuality by focusing excessively on homosexuals".
"[Netflix] was contacted to remove this content, including content directed at children, and to ensure adherence to the laws," the joint statement from the Saudi General Commission for Audiovisual Media and the GCC Committee of Electronic Media Officials said.
Authorities would follow up on compliance with the directives, and "in the event that the infringing content continues to be broadcast, the necessary legal measures will be taken", they warned.
There was no immediate response to the accusations from Netflix, according to BBC.
Although Sunni Muslim-ruled Saudi Arabia has no laws regarding sexual orientation or gender identity, sexual relations outside marriage, including homosexual sex, are strictly prohibited.
Under the country's interpretation of Islamic law, consensual same-sex sexual conduct is punishable by death or flogging, depending on the perceived seriousness of the case.
And the animated film Lightyear, which featured a same-sex kiss, was reportedly banned in the kingdom and the United Arab Emirates in June.
YouTube was meanwhile accused last month by Saudi authorities of permitting "inappropriate adverts" that violated Islamic values, BBC reported.
Actor Paul Shah sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail, gets clean chit on rape case
The Nawalpur District Court sentenced actor Paul Shah to two-and-a-half years in jail for sexually abusing a minor girl. The court also slapped him with a fine of Rs 2, 5000. Actor Shah, however, got clean chit on the rape case. A single bench of Justice Yagya Prasad Acharya ordered Shah to pay Rs 1 million to the victim. Lal Bahadur Chhetri, Information Officer at the court, said that the parents have also been altered. Earlier, the high court had upheld the decision of the Tanahun District Court and Nawalparasi District Court to keep him in custody. Actor Shah had surrendered himself at the District Police Office, Tanahun on February 27 after a minor singer filed a rape case against him. Shah was sent to custody for seven days for the first time on February 27 and the remand was extended by 12 days on March 5 for the second time for investigation. Based on the complaint filed by a 17-year-old singer, the District Attorney’s Office had filed a case against Shah at Tanahun District Court seeking 14 years of imprisonment.
Later, the issue took a twist after the minor singer, who had filed a complaint accusing Shah of raping her, changed her statement at the Tanahun District Court.
The girl said that she had not been raped as claimed by her earlier. She said that the information she stated while filing the complaint was false.
R. Kelly trial: Witness testifies she was sexually abused by the singer
A woman at the heart of R. Kelly's second federal trial has testified that the R&B singer had sex with her "hundreds" of times before she turned 18, BBC reported.
The 37-year-old woman, known as "Jane", said that improper contact with Kelly began when she was just 13.
The singer is on trial in Chicago for child pornography, obstruction of justice and other charges.
His lawyers have insisted he is not "a monster" and deserves a fair trial.
Kelly, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, is facing 13 criminal charges including creating and receiving child pornography, obstruction of justice and enticing minors into sexual activity.
Sacheen Littlefeather: Oscars apologises to actress after 50 years
The Oscars has apologised to Sacheen Littlefeather, a Native American woman booed off stage nearly 50 years ago, BBC reported.
The activist and actress appeared on live TV in 1973 to refuse an Oscar that Marlon Brando won for The Godfather.
Brando rejected the best actor award because of misrepresentation of Native Americans by the US film industry - and sent Littlefeather in his place.
The Academy said Littlefeather endured "unwarranted and unjustified" abuse following her brief speech.
"I never thought I'd live to see the day I would be hearing this," she told the Hollywood Reporter.
Littlefeather, then 26, was heckled and shunned by the entertainment industry following her speech at the awards.
Introducing herself on behalf of Brando - who wrote "a very long speech" - she briefly told the audience "that he very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award".
"And the reasons for this being the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry and on television in movie re-runs, and also with recent happenings at Wounded Knee," she said - in reference to a violent stand-off with federal agents at a site of significant importance to the Sioux people.
In 2020, Littlefeather told the BBC that straight after the speech she had to leave the stage with two security guards. But, she added, it "was a very good thing" as actor John Wayne was backstage (secured by six security men); she said he was "furious with Marlon and furious with me" and wanted to pull her off stage himself.
Some people used the "Tomahawk chop" - seen as a demeaning gesture to Native Americans - as she was walking by.
It was televised to 85 million people. Some media reports after the event claimed Littlefeather was not truly a Native American, but rather that she agreed to the speech to help her acting career. Some speculated she might be Brando's mistress.
She told the BBC all those claims were untrue.
"The abuse you endured... was unwarranted and unjustified," David Rubin, former president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, wrote in a letter to Littlefeather made public on Monday.
Mr Rubin said the speech at the 45th Academy Awards "continues to remind us of the necessity of respect and the importance of human dignity".
The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will host an event in September, in which Littlefeather will talk about her appearance at the 1973 Oscars and the future of indigenous representation on screen, BBC reported.
She added that keeping a sense of humour is "our method of survival".
