A Chinese comedy production company has been fined and barred from performing in Beijing after a comedian made a joke about the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the country’s armed forces, during a stand-up performance.
During a performance last weekend at a theater in the Chinese capital, comedian Li Haoshi, known by the stage name House, told a story that he had adopted two stray dogs in Shanghai and that they both chased a squirrel. The dogs’ behavior made him remember a sentence.
“Excellent style of work, able to win battles,” said House, citing a Chinese Communist Party slogan that references the PLA.
Due to criticism from the Chinese government, Li canceled all of his performances and his production company apologized in a statement.
It was not enough: this Wednesday (17th), the Beijing Municipal Department of Culture and Tourism determined that the company will have 1.3 million yuan (R$ 920,000) withheld for “illegal earnings” (revenue from performances in that Li made the joke) and will be fined 13 million yuan (R$ 9.2 million), in addition to being barred indefinitely from performing in Beijing.
In 2021, China enacted a law banning “insults” and “slander” against military personnel.
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