China Alters Gay Couple to Straight Using AI in Dave Franco Film 'Together'

The Chinese release of the 2025 supernatural horror film "Together"—helmed by director Michael Shanks and starring Dave Franco and Alison Brie—has ignited global controversy after reports confirmed that a same-sex couple featured in the original film was digitally modified using artificial intelligence to appear as a heterosexual couple for audiences in mainland China. The alteration, which involved swapping the face and apparent gender of one of the gay characters, has been widely criticized by LGBTQ+ advocates, filmgoers, and human rights organizations as a stark example of ongoing censorship and queer erasure in international media distribution .

"Together" premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 26, 2025, and received a wide US release on July 30, 2025, distributed by Neon. The film, which stars real-life couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as partners who relocate to the countryside and encounter a supernatural force, was praised for its narrative and performances, grossing over $32 million worldwide .

A key subplot in the original version features a newlywed gay couple, played by Charlie Lees and MJ Dorning, whose relationship serves as a meaningful representation of queer love within the horror genre. In the Chinese edition, however, one partner’s face was digitally altered using AI technology to depict a woman, thus transforming the couple into a heterosexual pairing. The change was not immediately apparent to many viewers until social media comparisons between the original and Chinese versions highlighted the edit .

News of the alteration quickly circulated on Chinese social media platforms, with viewers and LGBTQ+ advocates condemning the move as disrespectful to both the original creative vision and the LGBTQ+ community. One user commented on Douban, a popular film rating site in China, “This is disrespectful to the original work and another challenge to audience's tolerance. They want our money but won't show us the complete version. It's also disrespectful to the LGBT community” .

Internationally, the story has drawn sharp criticism from LGBTQ+ rights groups and media watchdogs, who highlight the use of AI in censorship as a troubling escalation in the sanitization of queer narratives for certain markets. The China Film Administration, responsible for film regulation in the country, did not respond to media requests for comment regarding the alteration or the technology used. Similarly, neither the film’s Chinese distributor, China Film Digital Movie Development (Beijing) Co., nor the film’s US distributor, NEON Rated, nor director Michael Shanks provided public statements on the decision as of this publication .

Amid mounting backlash, the film’s Chinese distributor abruptly postponed the film’s wide release a day before its scheduled debut, citing “changes in the film’s distribution plan” and providing no new release date . The incident has fueled ongoing debate about the ethics and implications of digital editing in film censorship, particularly as AI-powered tools become more sophisticated.

This is not the first instance of LGBTQ+ representation being censored in mainstream media distributed in China. In recent years, Chinese regulators have removed or altered references to same-sex relationships from internationally produced films and television series. Notable examples include the removal of content relating to Freddie Mercury’s sexuality in the 2019 Chinese release of "Bohemian Rhapsody", and the editing of dialogue referencing a gay relationship in the 2022 Chinese release of a "Harry Potter" film. Streaming platforms have also omitted or edited scenes involving LGBTQ+ characters from imported Western shows .

While homosexuality is not illegal in China and was decriminalized nearly three decades ago, official attitudes towards LGBTQ+ visibility in media have hardened in recent years, with an increased tightening of restrictions on both grassroots activism and mainstream cultural representation. Advocacy groups such as the Beijing LGBT Centre have faced closures, and public discussion of queer topics has been increasingly constrained .

LGBTQ+ activists and media commentators have warned that the use of AI to erase queer representation sets a worrying precedent, enabling more seamless and less detectable censorship in future media. The incident has raised urgent questions for filmmakers, distributors, and audiences about protecting the integrity of LGBTQ+ stories and the importance of visibility on the global stage.

Speaking to Bloomberg, individuals who attended the pre-release screening in China reported that the change was not obvious at first viewing, with many only learning of the edit after side-by-side comparisons circulated online . Advocacy organizations have called for international distributors and production companies to resist demands for the alteration or erasure of queer content, emphasizing the detrimental impact such actions have on both artistic freedom and the well-being of LGBTQ+ communities.

The controversy surrounding "Together" has gained further attention due to the film’s otherwise positive critical reception, with a 90% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and its strong global box office performance .

The decision to digitally alter LGBTQ+ representation in "Together" for its Chinese release has become a flashpoint in the ongoing global debate over censorship, representation, and the responsibilities of filmmakers and distributors in supporting marginalized communities. As AI technology offers new tools for the modification of media, the incident underscores the need for renewed vigilance in defending queer visibility and artistic integrity in a rapidly changing digital landscape.