Josh Gad, Luke Evans address ‘Beauty and the Beast’ controversy

Disney’s live-action “Beauty and the Beast” has been embroiled in controversy ever since director Bill Condon announced that one of its characters, LeFou, is gay. So far, an Alabama theater is refusing to screen the film, a Christian evangelist is calling for its boycott, and Russia will be banning it if it is found to include scenes that violate the country’s “gay propaganda” law.

Now Josh Gad, the actor portraying LeFou, has offered his thoughts on the issue.

Gad is happy that the movie expands on the character of LeFou, making him more human and complex as opposed to his original portrayal in the 1991 animated classic on which the upcoming movie is based.

He told People that the film is “one of inclusiveness.” It also depicts the suffering brought about by intolerance towards those who are considered different.

“…you have a character in Gaston who uses his charm offensive to whip other people into a frenzy to go and attack somebody they’ve never met. Somebody that’s different. Somebody that only represents a danger because [Gaston] says that he represents a danger,” he said.

For these reasons, Gad believes the film is as relevant today as the original fairy tale was when it was written 300 years ago.

Luke Evans plays Gaston, the object of LeFou’s admiration. Evans chimed in by saying two of the movie’s most important themes are “unity” and “never judging a book by its cover.”

Evans said the movie teaches us to dig “a little deeper,” to make efforts to understand people or things unfamiliar to us, instead of fearing and hating them.

“Fear is not a good thing to fuel, and Gaston is responsible for that,” said Evans. “But he fails—he fails miserably, and everybody finds love. Everyone!”

“Beauty and the Beast,” which also stars Emma Watson (Belle), Dan Stevens (the Beast/Prince), Ewan McGregor (Lumiere), Emma Thompson (Mrs. Potts), and Ian McKellen (Cogsworth), is opening in theaters this March 17. — BM, GMA News