China investigates comedian after he altered a revolutionary song lyric onstage
One of China’s best-known comedians is under investigation and several of his shows have been canceled after he changed the lyrics of a revolutionary song during a performance. Guo Degang, the country’s most prominent performer of traditional xiangsheng, a form of Chinese comedic dialogue, is under investigation by local authorities in the city of Wuhan in central China,…
Chinese comedian Guo Degang is under investigation and several of his shows have been canceled after he altered a lyric from a revolutionary song during a performance. The investigation has been initiated by local authorities in Wuhan, central China. Guo's show in the northwestern city of Xi'an was canceled due to "venue issues," and the exhibition center hosting the performance also cited "venue issues" and postponed the show without a new date.
Several of Guo's shows scheduled in August across cities were reportedly canceled. The incident has highlighted China's stricter controls and censorship of the entertainment and arts industries. Guo was reported to Wuhan's culture and tourism authorities after he changed the lyric from "it is quiet along Weishan Lake" to "it is quiet in the Forbidden City" during a performance in Wuhan last month.
The Forbidden City, a museum that attracts over 10 million visitors each year, is now a location where the lyric was changed. Neither Guo nor his promoter responded to the AP's requests for comment.
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