[ad_1]
A group of Republican lawmakers have demanded that Disney’s CEO explain why an episode of “The Simpsons” that includes a joke about the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre was removed from the Hong Kong version of the Disney+ streaming service.
“We are deeply concerned by the apparent decision of Disney to scrub history on behalf of the Communist tyrants in Beijing, even in a satirical environment like ‘The Simpsons,’” read the Friday letter, led by Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC), to Disney chief executive Bob Chapek.
“This deplorable action raises serious questions of yet another American company undermining American principles at the apparent demand of the CCP [Chinese Communist Party],” the letter added.
While all 32 completed seasons of the animated Fox sitcom are available on Disney+, users in Hong Kong noticed late last month that the 12th episode of the 16th season was unavailable. In that episode, the Simpson family visits China and stops at Tiananmen Square, where they are greeted by a plaque that reads: “On this site, in 1989, nothing happened” — a jab at Beijing’s campaign to downplay its brutal repression of pro-democracy protests.
Duncan’s letter asked whether Disney had allowed Chinese officials to review any content prior to the launch of Disney+ in Hong Kong last month.
“If yes, please identify when you provided the CCP the ability to scrub your content [or] to make censorship decisions,” read the letter. “If no, did Disney self-censor this episode? Why?”
The letter also asks if the Chinese government threatened a “shutdown or slowdown of operations at Shanghai Disneyland” if the episode was not pulled from the streaming service and asks whether Disney+ subscribers in Taiwan would similarly be prevented from seeing the episode.
The lawmakers also asked if the Chinese government had ever asked Disney to censor content and demanded the company make clear its “stance” on the tragic events of 1989.
“Do you publicly acknowledge that the Tiananmen Square Massacre did occur and there was significant loss of life at the hands of the Chinese government?” the letter asks. “What commitments are you willing to make to fight Chinese censorship when it comes to covering up past atrocities at the hands of the Chinese government?”
In addition to Duncan, the letter was signed by Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), Greg Pence (R-Ind.), Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.), John Joyce (R-Pa.), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.), Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), Bob Latta (R-Ohio), Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.), Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), Neal Dunn (R-Fla.) and Bill Johnson (R-Ohio).
“China wishes to wipe the Tiananmen Square protests and massacre of 1989 out of history, and it seems Disney is attempting to help achieve this goal,” Duncan said in a statement that quoted one of the most famous “Simpsons” catchphrases. “I strongly encourage Disney to reverse its course if it is complicit in any way with the Chinese government, and tell the Chinese Communist Party to ‘Eat My Shorts.’”
[ad_2]