Chinese comedian, Li Haoshi, performing under the stage name House, has been fined more than $2 million by the Chinese authorities for using a phrase associated with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) during his comedy show. The incident highlights the precarious line that comedians must tread in China where politics is rarely a laughing matter, and the severe consequences for those in the entertainment industry who are deemed to step out of line.
Li’s performance at the Century Theater in Beijing over the weekend contained a joke that referenced a well-known Chinese Communist Party slogan referring to the PLA. The phrase was first used by Chinese leader Xi Jinping in 2013 when he outlined a list of qualities he expected from the nation’s army. The joke cost Li and the entertainment company that represents him, Shanghai Xiaoguo Culture Media, heavily. The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism fined a subsidiary of the firm $1.91 million and deprived them of $189,000 illegally gained from Li's two live performances. The company was also indefinitely suspended from holding any performances in the capital.
The Beijing authorities accused Li of “seriously insulting” the military and “causing bad social impact”. Li and his agent and other relevant staff will undergo further investigations. In 2021, China enacted a law banning any insult or slander against military personnel.
Stand-up comedy has gained popularity in China in recent years, but the authorities have tightened ideological control, impacting the entertainment industry. Censorship controls have been imposed on issues deemed sensitive, from women’s cleavage to criticism of the Communist Party. After the penalties were announced, some Chinese internet users praised the official body’s decision, while others fear it may lead to a further crackdown on comedy.