Why an ultra-orthodox community in Israel has taken offence to a cartoon character

Images of Smurette, the only female character in the upcoming Smurfs movie, have been removed so as to not offend the ultra-conservative community of Bnei Brak, Israel.

Israel’s pious ultra-Orthodox Jewish community has long chafed at public displays of women, whether the images are of female public figures or ordinary women.

Demi Lovato plays Smurfette in the upcoming Smurfs: The Lost Village.

Now even animated characters appear to be a no-go.

The PR company promoting Smurfs: The Lost Village movie, which opens Thursday in Israel, says it has removed the images of Smurfette - the only female among the Smurf characters - from promo posters in the central Israeli city of Bnei Brak.

The Mirka’im-Hutzot Zahav company says it did so as not to offend the city’s ultra-Orthodox residents.

The original poster shows Smurfette alongside friends Brainy, Clumsy and Hefty. But in Bnei Brak, she’s nowhere to be found.

The ultra-Orthodox press in Israel has previously avoided publishing pictures of Hillary Clinton during last year’s American presidential race.

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