'Barbie' screening canceled in Paris for "denigrating women" and accusing the director of "giving in to Islamism"

An outdoor screening of the film "Barbie" in the Paris suburb of Noisy-le-Sec has been canceled due to threats against the municipal officers in charge of setting up the screen and chairs. A group of young people argued that the film—a feminist satire considered suitable for all audiences in France—"denigrates women" and "promotes homosexuality," according to 'Société'.

The incident occurred on August 8, and the suburb's communist mayor, Olivier Sarrabeyrouse , decided to cancel the screening to protect the safety of the public and staff. He also filed a complaint alleging threats and intimidation, and the case is under investigation.

The event's cancellation has sparked a strong political backlash . Right-wing and radical right-wing parties criticized the mayor for, they said, "giving in to Islamist pressure." The Interior and Culture Ministers, for their part, described the incident as an unacceptable form of cultural censorship.

The mayor defended his position and asserted that he had not given in, but rather acted to protect. He denounced the political manipulation of the events and warned about the climate of racist and Islamophobic hatred that had erupted on social media.

Finally, he announced that the film will be rescheduled for September, at a municipal theater, on a date that doesn't coincide with holidays or periods of high tension. The screening will be followed by a public debate.