disney cut an episode of the simpson cartoon that refers to “forced labor camps” in China from its streaming platform in Hong Kong.
The episode, which first aired in October last year during the show’s latest season, was not available on the Disney Plus streaming platform in Hong Kong, the Financial Times has learnt.
This appears to be the second time that an episode of a show produced by Disney-owned 20th Television Animation has been pulled from the streaming platform.
last episode of the simpson Was removed from service in 2021 in reference to the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre.
Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law on the city in 2020, which bans broadly defined crimes including secession and subversion, as part of its wider crackdown on political opposition and civil society.
Hong Kong authorities previously said a film censorship regime introduced in 2021, which forbids films threatening national security, “does not apply to streaming services”.
latest the simpsons The episode, titled “One Angry Lisa”, features a scene in which Marge Simpson takes a virtual bike class and the instructor says over images of the Great Wall of China: “Look at the wonders of China. Bitcoin mines, forced labor.” Camp where kids make smartphones.”
China has faced allegations of abuse, including forced labor, against Uighurs and other mostly Muslim minorities in mass detention centers in the northwestern Xinjiang region.
A UN report last year accused Beijing of “serious human rights violations” that could constitute “crimes against humanity”. Beijing has denied the allegations of rights abuses in Xinjiang.
Kenny Ng, associate professor at the Film Academy at Hong Kong Baptist University who specializes in censorship, said Disney may have actively censored the episode out of concern for its business in mainland China, which includes its theme parks. Are.
“The move had more to do with the company’s ties to mainland China, present and future,” Ng said. “It may be strategic to eliminate any China-offending episodes.”
Hong Kong’s government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether it had contacted Disney to remove the episode. Disney declined to comment.
This month, Disney will screen two Marvel films in China, the first to be approved for distribution in the mainland market since 2019.
The company was accused of self-censorship in 2021 when an episode of the simpsonwhich satirised Beijing’s repression of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre has disappeared from its Disney Plus streaming platform in Hong Kong.
The episode, which first aired in 2005, featured a visit to Tiananmen Square, where a large sign said: “At this site, in 1989, nothing happened.” Homer Simpson also called former Chinese Communist Party chairman Mao Zedong a “little angel” who killed millions.
Disney criticized for filming scenes of $200 million live-action remake in 2020 mulan in Xinjiang.
