“Hustlers,” the Jennifer Lopez crime film about New York strippers who swindle Wall Street, has been banned in Malaysia for its “excessive obscene content.”
The country’s film censorship board said the film was “not suitable for public viewing,” citing its scenes featuring nude breasts, erotic dancing and drug use, according to the BBC. “Hustlers” was meant to open in the country on Thursday.
“We regret to inform you that ‘Hustlers’ movie release has been canceled as it has been banned in Malaysia. We deeply apologize for the inconveniences caused to our beloved followers, fans of the movie, medias and partners,” the film’s Malaysian distributor Square Box Pictures said on Instagram. “We certainly appreciate all the love and support from our fans and movie lovers for this title; yet it’s our loss that we are unable to carry on. Our sincere apologies that we have let you down.”
STXfilms, which produced the film and released it domestically, did not immediately respond for a request for comment.
“Hustlers” also stars Constance Wu, Lili Reinhart, Keke Palmer, Julia Stiles, Cardi B and Lizzo in the story of a group of strippers in New York just ahead of the 2008 economic crisis who team up and scam Wall Street clientele at their strip club by drugging them and maxing out their credit cards. The film is based on a true story as inspired by a New York Magazine article from 2015.
Earlier this year, Malaysia censored the Elton John biopic “Rocketman” over scenes of gay sex seen in the film. In the past the country shelved Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” remake for a “gay moment,” which Disney ultimately refused to cut and was finally screened with the scene intact.
In its first week of release, “Hustlers” has made $47.6 million worldwide.