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Israeli authorities say no to "Sex" in cities

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There's going to be "sex," but not in two Israeli cities.

Forum Films, the Israeli distributor of the soon-to-be-released "Sex and the City" movie, said advertising posters and billboards won't be hung in Jerusalem and Petah Tikva because residents there don't want the word "sex" on display, said company spokesman Arye Barak.

Both cities have large religious populations.

The Israeli company that is handling outdoor advertising for the movie asked to have the word "sex" removed from the posters because it would bother people in those cities, Barak said.

"We told them, the way you don't remove the word "Coca" from "Coca-Cola" and just leave "Cola," we can't do it in this case," he said. "It's ludicrous."

Ads for the movie, based on the popular TV series, were to go up elsewhere in Israel on Tuesday night, said an official at Maximedia, the outdoor ad company.

Alternative outdoor ads will not be hung in Jerusalem and Petah Tikva, though the movie is heavily advertised on TV, the Internet and in newspapers, Barak said.

The worldwide release of the movie is scheduled for May 29.

This isn't the first time movie advertisers have come under pressure from the religious. When the animated Disney movie "Tarzan" was released here, Tarzan's loincloth created an uproar among religious Jews who found it provocative, Barak said. The outdoor posters that were already hung were taken down so the cloth could be enlarged, he said.

Nor is this the first time that "Sex and the City" has run afoul of Israeli religious sensibilities. Several years ago, a poster and billboard campaign showing star Sarah Jessica Parker in a skimpy, sequined dress was quickly pulled and replaced with new ads of her in a dress that covered her arms, back and thigh.
kushan

26 responses // Israeli authorities say no to "Sex" in cities

  • I am seeing "Sex and the City" next Friday. YAY!
    Swiyyah
  • I can understand the concerns. I think those who have conservative values should be able to uphold, as long as it does not affect others rights. So I do think the movie should be shown EVERYWHERE if it's being shown in the country at all.
    EbahDyke
  • yeah i can agree, but i also do think that all sides should be considered equally if there is concern
    antifence_sitter
  • What the hell is on SJP's head?
    ILiveonaClock
  • That title was almost as "punny" as any of Michael Patrick King's scripts from the last few seasons of the show. Well played kushan, well played.
    Scott_Bromley
  • watch this comment being used here, here, here and here
    Honestly, there are other problems facing Israel than the word "Sex."
    fashionista12182
  • Sarah Jessica Parker freaks me out.
    lapedro
  • To paraphrase Mel Brooks:
    We have a mission to protect the Jews (Jew, Jew, Jew, Jew, Jew, Jew, Jew)...

    Seriously, I was in Petah Tikvah in 1976, and everybody was excited about watching Charlie's Angels on TV. Go figure.
    marcozarco
  • SJP has a peacock on her cabeza..someone help her out
    keeshii768
  • watch this comment being used here, here, here, here, here, and here
    They should just tweak it a bit. Sweet Sweet Love and the City should work just fine.
    VigorousAlloy
  • How about Ecstasy in the Metropolitan Area?
    Argon18
  • Fundamentalism runs rampant in the dessert, that would be an excellent and accurate movie title. For a country that demands military service for it's young people they certainly don't seem to have much faith in their discipline.
    Deamontooth
  • http://www.onejerusalem.com/2008/05/20/where-they-burn-...
    That's expected. We have these issues with the orthodox every once in a while. This is by far a worse story as far as I am concerned...
    suntrader
  • Why would they show the movie if they have a problem with the title? Wouldn't they take issue with the content of the film as well?
    abbym0308
  • No. They oppose the visible street posters that they have to see on buses and street signs. The movie is something they wouldn't see by choice. In terms of censorship they have no power and they can't prevent movies of any kind from showing.
    suntrader
  • There's a shocker.
    Neghie
  • Big deal. Its only Sex and the City, a superficial freight-train of mass destruction.

    Their religion is obviously more important to them than a movie highlighting the beauty of consuming and self-serving.

    Im not religious, but I understand when age-old traditions overturn newage entertainment.

    Also, if someone who is oppressed by religious zealots really wants to see Sex and the City, I am sure they will.
    ToothAlmighty
  • Nothing can stop the hype train for Sex & the City! Those who try will be answered with more hype. Who do I write to to complain about the paltry sum of magazine covers this movie is getting? It's the hype frenzy of the year. Bleah.
    24French
  • I want to see an israeli censored movie!
    iknew
  • Wow, I didn't realize Israel was so backwards. So if they can't advertise it why show it there?
    eldamon
  • Once AGAIN, the Israeli propaganda mind control machine reminds us of Israel bias and keeps it on our minds, any way it can, by associating it to something "American" as Sex & the City. For example, I don't recall seeing a story how Sex & the City is banned in North Korea, or Kuwait, or any other country.

    It's all about Israel getting attention. *throws up*
    Wessagusset_Oracle
  • Oh, who cares? honestly shit like this happens all over America, Harry Potter getting banned from schools, Billboards taken down for showing too much skin, stop making a big deal of stuff just because its Israel doing it.
    rabidlemur
  • Us Americans have to realize that WE have it good here, but other countries can not enjoy the freedoms that we fell are our God given right to have.So is it bad that word "Sex" has to be replace, as long as they can enjoy what I HOPE is the best chic flick ever. As a longtime fan i really miss the show and the re-runs are not cut'n it anymore, so a new part or a fitt'n end to the show was needed.

    ABSOLUFUCK'NLUTLY!!!!!
    Tradiggy
  • ummmm.... try putting up a Sex in the City poster in Amish country... Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Or try putting one up near the Vatican in Italy. Or how about putting one up anywhere in Saudi Arabia.... there are countless place in the world where sex cannot be shown on a Billboard. Why are people calling Israel backwards for this when just about every country in the world has small pockets where sex cannot be plastered on a billboard.
    cheaney40z
  • israel have way more problems than sex in the city the movie hell they need to be worrying about hezbollah then worrying about a movie
    santana01
  • bravo israel, i was able to say no along time ago
    riverdeer

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