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Xi Jingping's Pooh Bear Animus Gets 'Christopher Robin' Banned in China

Xi Jingping's Pooh Bear Animus Gets 'Christopher Robin' Banned in China
Disney's "Christopher Robin" was banned in China over Chinese President Xi Jinping's animosity toward Winnie the Pooh amid comparisons between himself and the animated bear. (IMDb)

By    |   Tuesday, 07 August 2018 12:23 PM EDT

Xi Jinping's Pooh Bear animosity has led to Disney's "Christopher Robin" being banned in China, Deadline reported.

The Chinese president has become increasingly sensitive about the honey-loving bear since comparisons between the two began to emerge on social media several years ago.

As a result, Xi has censored Winnie the Pooh on social media in China and now he is targeting the live action film, which stars Ewan McGregor as Christopher Robin.

News that the movie has been banned in China was confirmed by Disney's distribution chief Cathleen Taff, Deadline reported.

Chinese censors first whacked the lovable portly animated bear off its social media networks in 2013 when a meme circulated mocking Xi in a photo with President Barack Obama, comparing them to a cartoon image of Pooh and Tigger.

Since then, Winnie the Pooh has been blocked at various times on Chinese social media sites when those using the network mocked Xi.

In 2014 social media users poked fun at the Chinese president's awkward handshake with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with an image of Winnie the Pooh shaking hands with Eeyore.

In 2015, an image showing Xi in a parade car and, next to it, an image of Pooh sitting in a toy car became the most censored image of the year, according to Global Risk Insights.

One anonymous source told The Hollywood Reporter that the movie's ban was directly linked to China's crackdown on images of Winnie the Pooh however, another source said the decision likely has to do with the fact that there are currently several new Hollywood tentpoles in the Chinese market.

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TheWire
China banned Disney's "Christopher Robin" over Chinese President Xi Jinping's animosity toward Winnie the Pooh amid comparisons between the animated bear and the Chinese leader.
xi jingping, pooh, bear, christopher robin, ban
293
2018-23-07
Tuesday, 07 August 2018 12:23 PM
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