While the whole world is waiting for the new Winnie the Pooh movie, “Christopher Robin” to be released in cinemas, China however has banned the movie due to the bear’s resemblance to China’s president.
The beloved Disney character has been viewed as the “symbol of resistance” in the country as it is being compared to the country’s president, Xi Jinping. The comparisons began in 2013 when an image of Xi walking with President Barack Obama was posted alongside a picture of Pooh walking next to Tigger.
A bear, however hard he tries, Falls foul of Chinese censors' eyes https://t.co/ToOCHHZT7I pic.twitter.com/8H9ITqIc1M
— Financial Times (@FT) July 16, 2017
Since then, memes started to flood social platforms and the comparison continued for years. Thus, the honey-loving bear immediately became the symbol of the Chinese resistance against the ruling Communist Party, and this has prompted Chinese authorities to heavily censor the character, blocking images, GIFs and mentions of the bear across social media.
China even censored Jon Oliver and HBO after the British talkshow host criticised Xi and mocked his sensitivity to being compared to the bear.
“Christopher Robin” is a fantasy film starring Ewan McGregor as the titular role. The film tells the story of Robin reuniting with Pooh and the gang as an adult and rediscovering his playful imagination.
The movie will be released in Malaysian cinemas on 16th August 2018.
Source: BBC
