tirsdag 8. september 2026

Chinese theater, promoter fined for altered patriotic song in a comedy show

Authorities fined two companies and said that one of China’s best-known comedians had caused a “negative impact” on society, after an audience reported him for changing the lyrics of a patriotic song during a performance.

The Culture and Tourism Bureau in Wuhan city said Monday they found the comedian Guo Degang “distorted” a patriotic song. It fined the company hosting Guo and the theater for violating rules on commercial performances. It also said it will “deal seriously” with relevant personnel, without specifying what those punishments will entail.

Guo is considered the country’s most prominent performer of traditional xiangsheng, a form of Chinese comedic dialogue using word play and rhymes. He was placed under investigation by the Wuhan authorities in August, local media reported.