Simpsons ‘censored’ in Hong Kong
AN EPISODE of The Simpsons which pokes fun at China is missing from Disney’s streaming channel in Hong Kong, sparking censorship fears.
The omission adds to concerns Beijing is cracking down on dissent in the region as the mainland’s influence grows there.
The missing episode from season 16 – first aired in 2005 – sees the cartoon family go to China. While at Tiananmen Square, they see a sign that reads, ‘On this site, in 1989, nothing happened’ – a satirical nod to China’s campaign to purge memories of the massacre of hundreds of student protesters.
The Hong Kong version of streaming service Disney+ launched this month. One expert said the removal was likely because ‘it is in [companies’] best interest not to offend the Chinese government’.
It is unclear if the firm removed the episode or if it was ordered by authorities. Neither Disney nor the HK government responded to requests for comment.