You might know the 1991 film Beauty and the Beast as a love story between an intellectual, bookish French mademoiselle called 'Belle', who falls in love with a prince-turned-beast after he imprisons her in his castle (it's not as weird as it sounds, according to Emma Watson), but prepare for the live-action remake of the tale to offer up an alternative love story.
According to the Telegraph, for the first time in Disney's 93-year history, it will present its first 'exclusively gay moment'.
In the live-action remake of the film, out Friday 17 March, manservant LeFou, will reportedly explore his sexuality and feelings of ultra-macho bafoon-like lead, Gaston.
While Disney is famous for long presenting 'happily ever afters' between princesses and princes and has so far tried but failed to present feminist roles who aren't defined by their marital status, diversity and realistic beauty standards, the film's director Bill Condon, praises Disney for finally taking the brave step to present same-sex love and representing the LGBTQ community.
In an interview with Attitude magazine, Condon said: 'LeFou is somebody who on one day wants to be Gaston and on another day wants to kiss Gaston.
'He's confused about what he wants. It's somebody who's just realizing that he has these feelings.
'And Josh [Gad, who plays LeFou] makes something really subtle and delicious out of it. And that's what has its pay-off at the end, which I don't want to give away. But it is a nice, exclusively gay moment in a Disney movie,' he added.
Of course, diehard Disney fans will know LeFou as the bumbling sidekick of Gaston, who famously sang a song named after his 'love' in a pub with fellow boozed-up drinkers in a bid to garner support for the muscle-man ahead of his battle against the beast.
In the song aptly titled 'Gaston', the amorous and devoted lines about the boisterous bloke include 'for there's no man in town half as manly' and 'perfect, a pure paragon'.
I mean, how the heck has it taken this long for people to think LeFou might have had romantic feelings for Gaston?
He called him a 'pure paragon' for crying out loud.
Following years of debate surrounding Disney's lack of LGBTQ identities on screen, Matt Cain, editor-in-chief of Attitude magazine has said this is a long overdue 'watershed moment' for the entertainment conglomerate.
In the publication, he wrote: 'By representing same-sex attraction in this short but explicitly gay scene, the studio is sending out a message that this is normal and natural - and this is a message that will be heard in every country of the world, even countries where it's still socially unacceptable or even illegal to be gay.
'It's only a first step towards creating a cinematic world that reflects the world in which many of us are now proud to live,' he added.
You can say that again.
Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
