An Out-0f-Nowhere Ban
Riyadh – 16th of April 2022, His Excellency, Minister of Media, Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasabi announced a ban on several animated movies, including “The Bee Movie”. The ban is the first of many yet to come to "purify" the entertainment platform in the country. "It is a necessary measure to limit and secure the media consumed by the children." When asked about what could entail this move, he replied: "We will re-evaluate these movies and unban them accordingly.". "These movies involve nuanced and inappropriate themes which may be unsuitable for children without the right supervision or localization. Additionally, of course, we need to make sure they do not go against the word of God". Saudi Arabia had previously eased a few of their draconian laws, and analysts praised them. It, therefore, comes as a surprise that Saudi Arabia would impose bans on animated movies like "The Bee Movie".
What is The Bee Movie?
“The Bee Movie” is an animated movie discussing the acute exploitation of bees, their marginalization, and the subtle politics of capitalism. The movie follows "Barry Benson" a worker bee with a carefree attitude, misplaced creative enthusiasm, and existential dread of the job market, which is limited to honey production. During a vital pollination mission, "Barry" realizes how humans have been harvesting the honey they toiled so hard for without regard or remorse for the bees. Following this discovery, "Barry" teams up with Vanessa, a florist, and continues to build a case against humans in the court of law. In a controversial twist, "Barry" and Vanessa start to develop a romantic relationship, a move that violates the species barrier. It is unclear what aspect of the movie was identified for the ban as government officials declined to elaborate further on the subject.
The People React
People all around the globe have taken to social media and protested the ban. "Why they banned "The Bee Movie" but let “Shrek” be is beyond me." reads an anonymous tweet. Which begs the question, why ban a fifteen-year-old kids' animated movie? The answer may be disturbing. Reddit user u/i_am_f4ther_less claimed that the ban is the first of many to curb an exponential growth in "incels" currently enveloping The Kingdom. "Real nasty stuff, but you gotta do what you gotta do. I wouldn't be surprised if they banned Anime after this news dies down.". "Incels" or Involuntary-Celibates are individuals with a false sense of entitlement regarding sex from the opposite gender; a steep incline in their numbers has sparked a debate amongst various social commentators.
In the US, Jerry Seinfeld – creator of the show "Seinfeld" and the writer behind "The Bee Movie"– expressed his grief at the news. "Nothing's sacred anymore. You can't just do this to people.". "This isn't about me; it's about the tightening noose around our very spirits.". Jerry has scheduled a rally for a protest outside of the Saudi Embassy on the 26th of April 2022.
To make matters worse, House Democrats have been putting pressure on President Biden to re-evaluate their relationship with Saudi Arabia. This is mainly due to the Saudis' refusal to help alleviate the global oil supply crisis. President Biden needs to traverse these waters carefully as we might be looking down the barrel of another predicament in the Middle East.
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