China's Stand-Up Comedy Scene Faces Crackdown After Military Joke Backlash
TL;DR
Chinese comedian Li Haoshi was punished and his production company fined roughly $2 million for making a joke about the People's Liberation Army, marking a new crackdown on stand-up comedy in China. The joke compared the army to dogs and referenced the official army slogan, which is seen as a direct insult to President Xi Jinping. The punishment is part of a tightening of restrictions on freedom of expression in recent years, and comedians are now required to abide by laws and maintain ethical values. Stand-up comedy has recently become popular in China, but now Beijing has designated comedians as actors of official propaganda.
- Chinese stand-up comedy warned to toe the line following viral joke about army FRANCE 24 English
- Chinese Speech Fears Skyrocket After Military Attack on Comedian The Wall Street Journal
- Can China's Stand-Up Comedy Scene Survive Joke About Two Dogs? Voice of America - VOA News
- Chinese Comedy Firm Fined $2 Million For Joke On Military NDTV
- No joke: China's backlash against stand-up stirs fear of comedy clampdown The Japan Times
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