Transcript
In majority-Christian and deeply conservative Samoa, the censoring of Rocketman surprised few.
The film has already faced similar restrictions in Russia and is expected to be cut from China because of gay sex scenes.
Samoa's only cinema revealed the move on Friday, echoing a ban on gay rights film Milk in 2009.
For Tuisina Ymania Brown, co-secretary general of the International LGBTI Association, it's an attack steeped in contradiction.
"It appears that the Samoa Censorship Board is pick and choosing which immorality that they choose to accept and exclude. They accept all the other immoralities but anything to do with homosexuality, anything to do with LGBTI, equal rights, it's like no, sorry, we will not publicise that."
No official reason was given by Samoa's Censorship Board for the ban and it could not be reached for comment.
But according to a local businessman who has attended its annual meetings, the board consistently bans content seen as opposing Christian values.
The businessman, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, says this includes any explicitly LGBTI content.
Alex Su'a, president of the Samoa Fa'afafine Association, says it's unfair to single out one issue while letting others like family violence slide.
"On the many other movies that I've seen being sold in DVD shops and what I've seen in cinemas, a lot of it is not really based on Christian principles or values."
Mr Su'a, who is also a lawyer, says Samoan legislation gives too much discretion to censors when they are making decisions.
Tuisina Ymania Brown says banning Rocketman will further alienate LGBTI people in Samoa, where gay sex is illegal although related laws are unenforced.
"It doesn't make sense at all. These are works of art, these are artistic interpretations of icons' lives. And there are young LGBTI fa'afine and fa'asama living in Samoa who probably are struggling with their sexual identity and their sexual orientation."
Still, advocates say ultimately the ban will have its biggest impact on Elton John fans and businesses wanting to sell the film.
Alex Su'a says it will have little effect on consumers because people can access the film uncensored online.
Protesting Russia's censoring of Rocketman last month, Elton John said on Twitter he would continue to fight for people to be heard equally.
