Together film edited in China to make a gay couple straight – by face-swapping actors entirely

China’s censorship rules have always been a hot topic, but this time, they’ve basically managed to stir up international outrage after digitally altering a gay couple in the new horror movie Together to appear straight.

The movie, which stars real-life Hollywood couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie, had its big-screen moment in Chinese cinemas earlier this month. It tells the story of a couple who move to the countryside and encounter a mysterious force that affects their lives and bodies. While the main plot follows them, there is also a peripheral wedding scene showing a gay couple, played by Charlie Lees and MJ Dorning. In the Chinese version, one of the men was replaced with a woman’s face using artificial intelligence, effectively changing the couple to heterosexual.

So, how did the audience react to it?

ADAM AND STEVE TO ADAM AND EVE

Here’s a use of AI I bet you never thought of! The horror film “Together” featured a gay couple in a peripheral role (see below) that got magicked into a straight couple in the Chinese edition.

No spoilers, but this definitely makes the film make… pic.twitter.com/bsxw5019uj

— Angelica 🌐⚛️🇹🇼🇨🇳🇺🇸 (@AngelicaOung) September 17, 2025

This change caused immediate backlash. Some people pointed out that the edit not only erased LGBTQ+ representation but also made the story less coherent. On the Chinese film-rating platform Douban, one user wrote, “Not only did they alter the plot, but they also disrespected the actor’s sexual orientation. It’s disgusting.”

Meanwhile, someone outside China also wrote X, “Adam and Steve to Adam and Eve.” Another added, “If the existence of gay people ruins your cinematic experience, maybe just don’t watch movies?”

Global distributor Neon, which premiered Together at Sundance earlier this year, also slammed the edit, calling it an “unauthorised” version and demanding Chinese distributor Hishow pull it immediately.

Following the backlash, Together has now been pulled from cinemas in China, less than two weeks after the screenings began.

But it’s not the first time that this has happened

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It’s also not the first time China has censored LGBTQ+ content. In the past, films like Bohemian Rhapsody removed references to Freddie Mercury’s homosexuality. And Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore cut scenes mentioning Dumbledore’s gay relationship. AI has also been used before for censorship, such as in Oppenheimer, where Florence Pugh’s nude scene was digitally covered. Okay, clearly they like their edits.

The censorship comes under Chinese laws introduced in 2016. It restricts the portrayal of LGBTQ+ content in films, TV shows, and other media. It’s 2025, maybe time to rejig it?

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