Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Distributor Pauses 'Together' in China After Reports of AI Edit Turning Gay Couple Straight

Regulators have offered no explanation as online comparisons of the altered scene fuel criticism on Douban.

Overview

  • Chinese viewers who attended pre-release screenings said the version they saw showed a heterosexual couple where the original depicted two men, according to Bloomberg.
  • Side-by-side clips circulating on social media alerted audiences to a likely AI face swap, with commenters calling the change disrespectful to the film and the LGBTQ community.
  • China Film Digital Movie Development halted the wide rollout one day before its scheduled debut, citing changes to the distribution plan and providing no new date.
  • The China Film Administration did not respond to questions about the alteration or the use of AI, leaving it unclear whether the change was mandated by authorities or made by distributors.
  • Some outlets also report removals of sex scenes, and critics say the modified wedding sequence muddies the narrative without disclosing key plot details.