ABC Rejects ‘Carol’ Trailer Featuring Lesbian Sex Scene

Carol-Cate-Blanchett-Weinstein-Co
The Weinstein Company

ABC has refused to air a trailer for the lesbian romantic drama Carol on its network due to a scene in which lead actresses Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara appear naked in bed together.

The film’s distributor The Weinstein Co. had hoped to run the racy TV ad on Disney-owned ABC during primetime in the lead-up to the Oscars, but the New York Post reports that TWC is now “making adjustments to fit network TV execs’ request” in order to get the ad on the air.

The network reportedly won’t air the ad unless TWC “provides more coverage” on each of the actresses.

Carol is TWC’s prime Oscar vehicle this season, having picked up five nominations at this year’s awards, including a Best Actress nod for Blanchett and Best Supporting Actress for Mara. The Weinsteins are hoping for better luck next month after the film left empty-handed from the Golden Globes, where it had also earned five nominations.

The Todd Haynes-directed film follows two very different women who fall in love in 1950s New York. The film expanded into wide release on January 15 after having opened in select theaters in November, and has earned roughly $24.5 million in worldwide box office to date.

The 88th Academy Awards will air Sunday, February 28 on ABC.

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