An unnamed source revealed China has banned showing of the Disney film "Christopher Robin" that features the well-loved character of Winnie the Pooh.
The country's film regulators typically reject showing of films with subversive themes, homosexual content, and excessive violence. It also controls the number of foreign films being shown in the country to strictly 34 a year.
China allowed the "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Black Panther" but Disney's "A Wrinkle in Time" has not been shown in the country yet. In March, the Beijing International Film Festival pulled "Call Me By Your Name" from its line-up.
The Chinese government did not offer an explanation why it has banned "Christopher Robin," the anonymous source told Reuters. The source added Chinese regulators did not offer explanations to Hollywood studios when it banned films. Reuters asked for comments from China's Culture Ministry, but it referred them to the State Administration of Radio and Television. The latter has yet to respond as of press time.
In July, however, Chinese regulators have first disallowed Winnie the Pooh searches from turning up on internet searches in the country.
Writing for BBC, Stephen McDonell explained at the time the censorship blocked Winnie the Pooh because local bloggers are spreading memes comparing the character to President Xi Jinping. Netizens have been highlighting the physical similarities between President Xi and Pooh.
A picture of President Barack Obama and the Chinese president walking side-by-side was compared to a picture of Winnie the Pooh and Tigger together.
A photograph of an awkward handshake between President Xi and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was compared to pictures of Winnie the Pooh and Eeyore shaking hands.
There was also a meme that proliferated of Winnie the Pooh popping out of a toy car when President Xi popped his head out of his Red Flag limousine during one event in the country.
McDonell noted that Chinese regulators are highly successful when imposing bans. They have virtually wiped out the pictures and information of Liu Xiaobo, a dissident and political prisoner who won a Nobel Peace Prize but died in Chinese custody. Xiaobao died on July 13, 2017, from complications of liver cancer in a Shenyang hospital in Liaoning Province while being guarded by state security. Most Chinese have never heard of him according to McDonell.
Meanwhile, there has been no report yet on whether "Crazy Rich Asian," the first Hollywood movie in 25 years with an all-Asian cast, is going to be shown in China.
