A screening of the film "Barbie" was canceled in Seine-Saint-Denis due to "pressure" from residents.

"I deplore the fact that a small group in the neighborhood mobilized its energy under pressure from an individual to prevent the screening of this film, which is classified as suitable for all audiences in France," wrote Olivier Sarrabeyrouse, the PCF mayor of the town, in a statement posted on the town's website and on Facebook.

"Our public service agents have once again been threatened with violence (...) These threats were motivated by fallacious arguments, reflecting obscurantism and fundamentalism used for political ends," added the mayor, explaining that the meeting had to be cancelled.

The mayor told the daily newspaper Le Parisien that "while the officers were setting up, some young people threatened them, saying they were going to prevent the viewing and destroy the equipment (...), it became very aggressive."

"They said it promotes homosexuality and that it is an attack on the integrity of women," he added to the daily.

Directed by Greta Gerwig, the film is a feminist satire that sees Barbie, played by Margot Robbie, encounter real-world misogyny. The film became a global box office hit, grossing $1.4 billion.

"Yet another serious attack on programming, depriving families and children of a cultural activity. For the past year, I have taken firm action against these serious attacks, which have become a new form of delinquency. A complaint is pending," Rachida Dati, Minister of Culture, declared on X.

According to the mayor, the film, which was to be shown at 9 p.m. on Friday in the Londeau district, had been previously chosen by residents.

The screening was part of "Ciné sous les étoiles," a free summer program of outdoor films that takes place every year in the Est Ensemble intercommunality, which includes Noisy-le-Sec.

"Once again, it is the families and children who do not go on vacation who are deprived of these precious moments of conviviality and culture during the summer," reacted Aurélie Trouvé, the Insoumise MP for the constituency, on X. "Culture must remain a tool of emancipation, unity, and openness for all. It cannot be confiscated."

"I will not tolerate cultural no-go zones in our city," Olivier Sarrabeyrouse stated in his statement, announcing the filing of a complaint. "If we have given in to protect the safety of public service workers and spectators, we will not break our position."