China’s best-known comic Guo Degang investigated after jokingly rewriting revolutionary song

Beijing, Aug 19 — Renowned Chinese comedian Guo Degang finds himself in hot water after a lighthearted alteration of lyrics from a revered revolutionary song during a performance in Wuhan last month, according to CNN. This impromptu jest has sparked an investigation into potential breaches of China's commercial performance regulations.

The case centers around the song "Playing My Beloved Pipa," which pays homage to Chinese communists who fought against Japanese forces during the Sino-Japanese War. It was even featured in the 1950s film Railroad Guerrillas and was among the 100 songs recognized during the People's Republic of China's 70th anniversary in 2019.

During a July 31st show in Wuhan, Guo chose to deviate from the traditional lyrics, which were "all is quiet on Weishan lake" in the original version. Instead, he sang, "all is quiet in the Forbidden City," clearly intending this change for comedic effect. This departure from the script led to allegations that he had "distorted and vulgarized a classic revolutionary work" and "violated public morals and accepted standards of conduct," as reported by state-affiliated outlet The Paper.

The Wuhan Culture and Tourism Bureau confirmed they are investigating the incident, though no timeline for releasing their findings has been provided.