Chinese comedian Guo Degang investigated after patriotic song gag
A famous Chinese comedian is under investigation, local authorities told AFP on Sunday, after he reportedly poked fun at a patriotic song during a performance. The ruling Communist Party maintains tight control over China’s arts scene, and the government has enacted laws in recent years to protect national heroes and symbols from purported slander. Guo […]
Chinese comedian Guo Degang, 53, is currently under investigation by authorities in Wuhan after allegedly making a joke about a patriotic song during a performance. According to local media reports, Guo reportedly altered a line from a 1956 tune celebrating Chinese resistance against Japanese forces during World War II. The Wuhan culture and tourism bureau confirmed that an investigation into Guo was ongoing, though the specifics were unclear.
Guo, who hails from Tianjin, is renowned for his rapid comic dialogue style known as crosstalk, or "xiangsheng." He has performed on state broadcaster CCTV's annual Spring Festival Gala and at the prestigious Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Recent performances featuring Guo have been postponed or canceled at venues across various Chinese cities, with refunds offered to attendees.
The song in question, "Playing My Beloved Pipa," was recognized in 2019 as an outstanding piece celebrating the founding of the People's Republic of China. One instance cited by local reports involved Guo changing the lyric "quiet on Weishan Lake" to "quiet in the Forbidden City," a former seat of imperial power, and performing the lines with a comedic twist. Authorities had not approved this alteration prior to the performance, according to Wuhan's culture bureau.
Authorities have been tightening control over arts performances, including comedies, since President Xi Jinping took office. In 2023, a performing group was fined and had their shows indefinitely suspended after a comic made a joke involving an army slogan, which officials deemed as having caused a negative social impact and violating the law.
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