PARIS, Aug. 16 -- An open-air screening of Greta Gerwig's blockbuster Barbie in Noisy-le-Sec, Seine-Saint-Denis, was abruptly cancelled last night after a group of youths threatened municipal workers and vowed to stop the film, prompting the mayor to call off the event for safety reasons.

The threats occurred in the Londeau neighbourhood where the film was set to be shown as part of Est Ensemble's summer programming at nightfall, French news site Le Parisien reported.

Mayor Olivier Sarrabeyrouse (PCF) revealed the cancellation on social media, explaining that aggressive youth had threatened to prevent the screening and destroy the equipment.

The mayor reported that opponents claimed the film "promotes homosexuality and is an attack on ...