Best known for his career-defining role in The Matrix, Keanu Reeves enjoys international success as an actor. However, the 57-year-old actor is allegedly blacklisted from China’s streaming platforms due to his participation in and support of the Tibet House Benefit Concert event earlier this year.
Reportedly, Keanu’s involvement in the charity event was seen as support for Tibet, which is a politically sensitive region due to its history of claiming independence from China. Soon after Keanu’s involvement was announced, Chinese nationalists took to social media to protest his participation.
According to media reports, several major Chinese streaming platforms, such as iQiyi, Bilibili, and Xiqua Video, have removed his movies. Keanu’s upcoming movie John Wick 4, which also stars Donnie Yen (甄子丹), may be implicated and unable to release in China.
This would not be the first time that China has banned entertainers due to alleged affiliation with Tibet. In 2016, for example, China banned Lady Gaga after she met with the Dalai Lama to discuss and explore yoga. Brad Pitt was also banned after filming the 1997 movie, Seven Years in Tibet, in which he stars as Heinrich Harrer, one of the 14th Dalai Lama’s tutors.
Source: Ming Pao
This article is written by Huynh for JayneStars.com.
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