MCU’s First Lesbian Kiss Was Removed From Final Cut

It’s been revealed that the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s very first lesbian kiss was removed from the final cut of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. This news comes to us via a post from r/Screenwriting on Reddit.

The movie’s whole script was posted on the subreddit, and it revealed that the movie was going to feature the MCU’s very first lesbian kiss and it ended up being cut from the theatrical cut of the movie.

The scene in question features Florence Kasumba’s Ayo sharing a kiss with her partner Aneka (played by Michaela Coel) at the end of the movie.

The deleted scene takes place in Aneka’s Wakanadan apartment. In the scene, Ayo offers to “[restore the warrior] as a Dora [Milaje].”

From there, “Aneka gives [Ayo] a kiss on the cheek”. Kasumba’s Wakandan warrior responds by “[kissing] Aneka on the lips.”

Marvel removed the MCU’s first lesbian from Black Panther 2’s final cut

Credit: Marvel Studios

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INT. ANEKA’S APARTMENT – RIVER PROVINCE – DAY

A house party is in full swing. Aneka, dressed in casual clothing opens a door, revealing Ayo in uniform.

Aneka: “General?”

Ayo takes in the revelers behind Aneka.

Ayo: “I am here on behalf of the Elders. They would like to offer you restoration as a Dora.”

Aneka: “The Elders? That is kind of them, something tells me I had a strong advocate… (in Xhosa) I accept.”

Ayo (in Xhosa): “I know.”

Aneka gives her a kiss on the cheek, Ayo kisses Aneka on the lips.

It does have to be said that the final cut of the movie did see the pair share a kiss. However, it wasn’t the kiss they had originally intended.

Aneka kisses Ayo on the forehead during the final battle with the Talocanil. It’s a tender moment, but not really a moment that really shows that the two of them are an item.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever didn’t feature a lesbian kiss

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Moreover, that scene is a little bit different in the original leaked script of the movie. It doesn’t feature a kiss on the forehead at all.

The scene actually sees the couple share a rather cute moment during the fight where Aneka yells “Duck!” to her partner, who avoids an attacking Talocanil warrior.

Ayo reponds by looking at Aneka and saying “Thanks my love”, but there is no kiss shared between the two:

EXT. DECK – ROYAL SEA LEOPARD – DAY

Nakia lands on the deck, draws her RINGBLADES and begins fighting a Talocanil Warrior. Ayo and Aneka fight back to back, ravaging Talocanil.

Aneka: “Duck!”

Ayo ducks and Aneka takes down an attacking Talocanil warrior behind her.

Ayo (SUBTITLE): “Thanks my love.”

It’s true that the romance between Aneka and Ayo in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was teased before the movie’s release in cinemas. Michaela Coel previously noted that the pair’s “forbidden affair” was something she was excited to explore.

She continued by remarking that she knew how big a deal this was to show this kind of “representation on a very mainstream platform.” It’s such a shame to find out that the scene in which the pair share a kiss was removed from the final cut of the movie.

What do you make of this news? Are you surprised that Marvel Studios opted to remove the lesbian kiss in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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