The Hollywood Reporter recently published a report that explored the circumstances surrounding Victoria Alonso’s departure from Marvel Studios. According to the report, Disney decided to remove gay imagery from Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania to avoid a ban.

Victoria Alonso’s Abrupt Exit

Victoria Alonso was a long-time executive at Marvel Studios who was unexpectedly fired after working with an outside studio on Argentina, 1985. Although some rumors suggested that her involvement with Argentina, 1985 was the reason behind her firing, her attorney denied this claim.

New Report Reveals Disney’s Decision

According to a new report, Marvel Studios removed gay imagery from Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania for its release in Kuwait. This move was apparently made to avoid a ban on the film in the country.

Insiders claim that the request to censor gay Pride references in Quantumania came from Kuwait, and that Marvel executives went to an editor to blur out a storefront window that featured the word “Pride” and rainbow decorations. This set piece appeared in two brief scenes with Paul Rudd’s character on a San Francisco street.

Alonso Refuses To Make The Edit

Alonso, who is gay herself, refused to have her team make the edit, as she believed it was “reprehensible.” As a result, Marvel went to an outside vendor to get the changes done. Kuwait also had several other changes made to the final film, including the removal of references to alcohol and the animated butt cheeks of the character MODOK.

The Situation Is Messy

While it is unclear if the decision to remove gay imagery was the sole reason for Alonso’s departure from Marvel Studios, it is clear that the situation is messy. Many things would have to happen to get where it is today, and there are likely key points on both sides that have yet to be revealed.

Disney’s Decision Disappoints Fans

Disney’s decision to remove gay imagery from the film has disappointed many fans who believe that the studio caved in to witless demands. It is worth noting that Marvel Studios has survived having some of its projects banned in China, a significant source of box office success, so it is unclear why the studio felt the need to make changes for Kuwait.