Disney caved in to Chinese censorship so fast it looks like Xi Jinping is holding Mickey Mouse hostage or something. South Carolina’s Jeff Duncan typed up a letter to say what several high powered conservative lawmakers, including Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Dan Crenshaw and Debbie Lesko were all thinking. The coalition is concerned that China might be holding something over the company’s head to blackmail them into compliance. If that’s not the answer, then they’re demanding CEO Bob Chapek explain why the American company was so eager to help China save face that they would voluntarily censor a controversial episode of “The Simpsons.”
Disney aids Chinese censorship
When cartoonist Walt Disney drew up Mortimer Mouse in 1928 he instantly bowed down to censorship and it seems to have started a bad habit. When Walt’s wife heard the new character’s name, she immediately vetoed it, declaring the mouse would be named Micky. The rest is history.
Flash forward to the 21st century where an animated serial family are accepted as almost real neighbors down the street. When “The Simpsons” paid a visit to China in an episode, they really upset the Propaganda Minister.
Disney executives know how much Xi Jinping hates cartoons, especially Winnie the Pooh. The Republicans in Congress are demanding CEO Bob Chapek come up with some answers why the episode including “a joke about the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre” vanished without a trace from the Hong Kong version of the streaming service.
“In episode 12 of the 16th season, the Simpson family visits China. While making a stop at Tiananmen Square, they are greeted by a plaque that reads, ‘on this site, in 1989, nothing happened.'”
“We are deeply concerned by the apparent decision of Disney to scrub history on behalf of the Communist tyrants in Beijing, even in a satirical environment like ‘The Simpsons.'”
Rep. Duncan used a what progressives consider a really dirty word, calling the action “deplorable.” Liberals hate being called that, it’s a slur they reserve for conservatives, who wear the badge proudly, infuriating the left even more. “This deplorable action raises serious questions of yet another American company undermining American principles at the apparent demand of the CCP [Chinese Communist Party].”
Did China order it?
Duncan and his group first want to know if the Communist Chinese reviewed the Disney content prior to the launch of the streaming service. “If yes, please identify when you provided the CCP the ability to scrub your content to make censorship decisions.”
A no answer means the company self-censored so they want to know “why?” Another thing they want to know if the magic kingdom is a global company after all.
“Does Disney view itself as a US company that operates globally, or a global company that also operates in the US?” Biden’s tax guys will be waiting for that answer.
The congressmen give the corporate execs a way out by inquiring if maybe they were being blackmailed. “Did the CCP at any time hint at a shutdown or slowdown of operations at Shanghai Disneyland during the review of streaming this episode in Hong Kong?” What about Taiwan, will they expect similar treatment?
The group asks “are there any past, current, or future plans as to whether the people of Taiwan will be limited from seeing this episode on your streaming service?” The Republicans aren’t even real sure where Disney stands on the massacre itself.
“Do you publicly acknowledge that the Tiananmen Square Massacre did occur and there was a significant loss of life at the hands of the Chinese Government?” If China isn’t holding somebody hostage, then the company seems to be acting awfully cozy and that will need a much closer look.