As fans celebrate his return to the stage as a soloist, the success of his two albums « WATERFALL » and « COSMO » as well as his outstanding performance at GRAMMY’s Global Spin, the artist has to face censorship on Chinese social media such as Weibo or Douyin.
Since January 10, the Chinese networks of the idol are all blocked with the following message: « The user has been temporarily suspended for violating the rules of the community ».
Implemented by the government in 2021, the « rectification movement » blacklists or simply bans several Chinese or foreign celebrities with criminal records or scandals.
The government hopes that the idol craze and the influence of pop culture will be controlled on their territory, passing several laws in this sense. They also hope to protect their youth by banning « effeminate » images that male idols « promote » as well as excessive purchases of K-pop products such as mass-produced albums. They also hope to protect them from scandals, contrary to the ethics they wish to promulgate to the population.
As a reminder, B.I was convicted of buying and using drugs and sentenced to 4 years of probation. This scandal ended his career in IKON as well as the premature end of his contract with YG Entertainment.
However, he is not the only one to be punished, the former member of EXO Kris Wu also faced this punishment having been arrested for rape. And the NCT’s member Lucas, who was also put on break for his scandal about « unethical » dating.
Journalist: Anaïs
Translator: Anaïs
Source : SNS chinois
