Malaysia holds off screening 'Beauty and the Beast' after scene involving 'gay moment'

So it looks like Malaysians won't get to watch Beauty and the Beast after all.

The Walt Disney Company has shelved the Malaysian release of the movie, despite the country's film censors eventually approving the much-anticipated film.

The Malaysian Censorship Board said on Tuesday that it had approved the screening of the movie, albeit with a "minor edit concerning a gay moment in the film."

Despite this, the movie was pulled anyway, with Disney saying it had been postponed for an "internal review."

The country's two biggest cinema chains said the movie, which was originally due to begin screening on Thursday, had been postponed indefinitely.

The censor approved the movie with a PG13 parental guidance classification, according to a report by The Star.

The issue was first brought up on Monday when two major cinema chains, Golden Screen Cinemas and TGV cinemas announced refunds for the tickets purchased.

Needless to say, people were pretty mad.

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A Malaysian minister also spoke up in favour of the movie.

"I think it's ridiculous," said Tourism Minister Nazri Aziz to the Malay Mail Online.

"You don't ban a film because of a gay character. Thousands of film showing murder, rape, robbery...how come you don't ban them?"

Beauty and the Beast is Disney's first film featuring an openly gay character.

Homosexual activity is illegal in Malaysia, a Muslim majority country. The country allows depiction of gay characters, but only if they show repentance or are painted in a negative way.

Sodomy is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and whipping.

Additional reporting by The Associated Press.