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 2. / Live news


'SIMPSONS' TIANANMEN EPISODE MISSING FROM HONG KONG DISNEY+



Issued on: 29/11/2021 - 07:14


Disney+ started streaming in Hong Kong in November and and eagle-eyed customers
noticed an episode of 'The Simpsons' featuring China was conspicuously absent
Peter PARKS AFP
2 min

Hong Kong (AFP) – An episode of 'The Simpsons' in which the cartoon American
family visit Tiananmen Square has been removed from Disney's streaming channel
in Hong Kong at a time when authorities are clamping down on dissent.

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The missing episode adds to concerns that mainland style censorship is becoming
the norm in the international business hub, ensnaring global streaming giants
and other major tech companies.

Disney+ has made rapid advances since it was launched 18 months ago reaching
more than 116 million worldwide subscribers.

The Hong Kong version started streaming earlier this month and eagle-eyed
customers soon noticed that an episode of 'The Simpsons' featuring China was
conspicuously absent.



Episode 12 of season 16, which first aired in 2005, features the family going to
China to try and adopt a baby.

During the episode they visit Beijing's Tiananmen Square, the site of a deadly
1989 crackdown against democracy protesters.

In the cartoon there is a sign in the square that reads "On this site, in 1989,
nothing happened", a satirical nod to China's campaign to purge memories of what
happened.

It is not clear whether Disney+ removed the episode or was ordered to by
authorities.

The entertainment giant has not responded to requests for comment, nor has Hong
Kong's government.

When AFP checked Disney+'s Hong Kong channel on Monday episodes 11 and 13 of
season 16 were available but not 12.

Until recently Hong Kong boasted significant artistic and political freedoms
compared to the mainland. But authorities are currently transforming the city in
the wake of huge and often violent democracy protests two years ago.

Among the slew of measures are new censorship laws introduce this summer that
forbid any broadcasts which might breach a broad national security law that
China imposed on the city last year.

Censors have since ordered directors to make cuts and refused permission for
some films to be shown to the public.

Last week Hong Kong's Beijing appointed leader Carrie Lam vowed to "proactively
plug loopholes" in the city's internet and introduce "fake news" regulations.

Her comments have added to concerns China's "Great Firewall" sprawling internet
and news censorship regime could be extended to Hong Kong.

Content that satirises China is still available on other streaming platforms in
Hong Kong.

Netflix's Hong Kong channel is currently still showing 'Band in China', an
episode of the cartoon series 'South Park'.

In that episode, one of the characters ends up in a Chinese labour camp and much
of the show lampoons the willingness of American brands to adhere to Chinese
censorship rules in order to make money.

© 2021 AFP