Delta Agrees to Restore Movies With Same-Sex Love Scenes

Delta Air Lines has been criticized for cutting same-sex love scenes and references to LGBTQ sexuality from Booksmart and Rocketman. However, the airline has spoken out to say that it selected an edited form of both films and is working to restore the full versions of the two movies on its flights.

Last month, Delta Air Lines came under fire for showing a controversially edited version of the film Booksmart. According to The Guardian, the version shown in Delta cabins cut a same-sex love scene and removed a reference made within the film to the female anatomy.

The edited version, also shown by Etihad, was brought to the attention of director Olivia Wilde on Twitter, who questioned the changes.

However, Wilde’s film wasn’t the only movie to have been edited as the outlet reports. Delta was also criticized for showing the movie Rocketman with all references to Elton John’s sexual orientation removed.

Speaking out about the cut scenes, the airline stated that these edits, which it did not request, were made “by a third-party vendor”.

Offering their comments, a spokesperson was quoted by the outlet as saying, “Studios often provide videos in two forms: a theatrical, original version and an edited version. We selected the edited version and now realize content well within our guidelines was unnecessarily excluded from both films. We are working to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

“The studio has agreed to provide a special Delta edit that retains the LGBTQ+ love scenes in both Booksmart and Rocketman that will be on our flights as soon as possible,” she added.

The airline added that it was now working to ensure no LGBTQ content was cut from its in-flight films. Wilde tweeted the airline with her thanks.

Thank you, @delta. https://t.co/V4rk2loBV3

— olivia wilde (@oliviawilde) November 2, 2019

[Featured Image: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock]