China has banned Disney’s “Christopher Robin” over what some are saying has to do with Chinese leader Xi Jinping “bearing” a similar likeness with one of the the lead characters in the film, Winnie The Pooh.
From The Hollywood Reporter:
For only the second time this year, a Disney movie has been denied release in China. Christopher Robin, a live-action/CGI family film that stars Ewan McGregor, received a no-go from the country’s film authorities.
No reason was given for the denial, but a source pinned the blame on China’s crackdown on images of the Winnie the Pooh character, which is featured in a central role in Christopher Robin. Last summer, authorities began blocking pictures of Winnie the Pooh on social media given that the character has become a symbol of the resistance in China with foes of the ruling Communist Party, namely Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Bloggers have drawn comparisons between the pudgy bear and Xi, which has put the country’s censors in overdrive. In June, Chinese authorities blocked HBO after Last Week Tonight host John Oliver mocked Xi’s sensitivity over being compared to Winnie the Pooh.
And for those curious as if there are any similarities between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Winnie The Pooh, here is a comparison image of the two. Pooh is on the right.
Source: THR
Whether or not there’s an actual likeness, it became a meme and the Disney character can no longer be featured in China. What I would advise is just let the film open country wide and the meme would no longer exist. It wouldn’t make any sense.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Pooh is on the right …..
Worlds greatest sentence.
I can’t stop laughing
Of all things to slow down the internet in China: the world’s most simple, and one of the best loved characters: Winnie the Pooh. If that doesn’t scream over censorship against their government, I don’t know what would. – I Love it.
Why was A Wrinkle in Time banned?
Oprah also looked a little like president Jinping.