The Pacific nation of Samoa has banned the Elton John biopic B次元官网网址淩ocketmanB次元官网网址� because of its depictions of homosexuality.

About 97% of people in Samoa identify as Christian, and the society is generally considered conservative and traditional. Under SamoaB次元官网网址檚 2013 Crimes Act, sodomy is deemed an offence that is punishable by up to seven years in prison, even if both parties consent.

SamoaB次元官网网址檚 principal censor Leiataua Niuapu Faaui told the Samoa Observer on Tuesday that the homosexual activity depicted on screen violated laws and didnB次元官网网址檛 sit well with the countryB次元官网网址檚 cultural and Christian beliefs.

The censor did concede to the newspaper that B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a good story, in that itB次元官网网址檚 about an individual trying to move on in life.B次元官网网址�

Apollo Cinemas Samoa wrote on Facebook that B次元官网网址渄ue to censoring issues we have had to cancel Rocketman.B次元官网网址�

The movie examines JohnB次元官网网址檚 sexuality and relationship with then-manager John Reid. It stars Taron Egerton who does his own singing as John in the musical fantasy that aims to capture the essence of the musicianB次元官网网址檚 life.

A Russian distributor censored scenes from B次元官网网址淩ocketmanB次元官网网址� that featured gay sex and drug use, and John wrote in a joint statement with the filmmakers that it was a B次元官网网址渟ad reflection of the divided world we still live in and how it can still be so cruelly unaccepting of the love between two people.B次元官网网址�

Russian gay rights activists and prominent figures denounced the move. Although homosexuality is not criminalized in Russia, animosity toward gay people remains strong.

Samoa, which is home to about 200,000 people, also banned the 2008 movie B次元官网网址淢ilk,B次元官网网址� in which actor Sean Penn portrayed American gay activist Harvey Milk.

Since opening 10 days ago, Rocketman has taken in about $101 million at theatres around the world.

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Nick Perry, The Associated Press

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