VIDEO : Sir Ian McKellen Calls 'Beauty and the Beast' Gay Controversy 'Rubbish'

(CNN)Sir Ian McKellen thinks controversy surrounding the inclusion of a gay character in Disney's live-action "Beauty and the Beast" is "rubbish." "People who don't like the idea of gay characters appearing in fairy stories should think what they would think if they were gay themselves and why should they be excluded?" McKellen told CNN at the film's New York premiere Monday. Actor Josh Gad's character in the film, LeFou, briefly dances with another male character at the end of the movie. "For people to complain about it and say they don't want children to see it is absolute rubbish," McKellen said.