Disney has pulled an episode of “The Simpsons” that criticizes China from its streaming platform in Hong Kong.
The episode, titled “One Angry Lisa,” first aired in October last year and features Marge Simpson taking a spin class as the screen flashes images of the Great Wall.
“See the wonders of China,” said the class instructor. Bitcoin mines, forced labor camps where kids make smartphones.
In recent years, as Hong Kong has come under increasing control from Beijing, Disney likely pulled the episode so as not to anger the Chinese government.
China is an important market for Disney, and the country has become one of the company’s most important sources of revenue.
While Disney bills itself as an enlightened and progressive company, China is under fire for it. Violations of human rightsThe company’s desire to cozy up to the country, including cultural and religious persecution, has therefore led to accusations of hypocrisy.
“Capitalism is capitalism, but a company like Disney, which constantly touts how diverse and inclusive they are, should stand up for what they believe in instead of bending over backwards for China’s money. That’s hypocrisy. is,” a critic Recently criticized on Twitter..
The Post has reached out to Disney for comment.
The “labor camp” joke in “The Simpsons” episode apparently refers to the mass internment of the Uyghurs, a Muslim-majority group in western China.
According to US State Department, There are 1,200 state-run detention camps set up for Uyghurs across the region.
“The purpose of internment in these camps is to erase ethnic and religious identities under the guise of ‘vocational training,'” the department writes. “Forced labor is the main tactic used for this oppression.”
Axis first confirmed that “The Simpsons” episode had been pulled from Disney’s streaming service in Hong Kong.
However, this is not the first time that an episode of the cartoon series has been nixed.
In 2021, Disney pulled a separate episode of “The Simpsons” from its streaming service in Hong Kong — which featured a Tiananmen Square joke.
“Disney is no stranger to China’s censorship demands and has a long record of bowing to them,” Axios wrote in its report.
Disney isn’t the only American company to face criticism for its apparent coordination with China.
Apple — which similarly presents itself as a progressive company — was called out after it blocked the use of its AirDrop tool in China amid mass protests against Xi Jinping’s “zero COVID” policies. went.
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