'South Park' creators offer sarcastic apology after China bans episode: 'We good now China?' - USA TODAY

Hannah Yasharoff USA TODAY

Published 6:28 AM EDT Oct 8, 2019

The creators of "South Park" sarcastically acknowledged Monday the Chinese government's decision to ban clips, episodes and online discussions of the animated show after an episode critical of the country. 

The episode "Band in China," which originally aired last Wednesday, satirizes the entertainment and sports industries' willingness to abide by Chinese censors in order to corner its business market. 

At one point in the episode, an entertainment executive notes characters can't include Winnie the Pooh in a biopic, because the animated character is "illegal in China because some Chinese students said he looked like the Chinese president." At another, Randy (Trey Parker) is stuck in prison for attempting to bring marijuana into the country to sell. There, he meets Winnie the Pooh, also stuck behind bars. 

Creators and stars Parker and Matt Stone issued an "official apology" Monday night, sarcastically slamming the Chinese government's decision to ban not only their episode, but two NBA preseason games set to be played in the country. 

"Like the NBA, we welcome the Chinese censors into our homes and into our hearts," the "official apology" read. "We too love money more than freedom and democracy. Xi doesn't look just like Winnie the Pooh at all. Tune into our 300th episode this Wednesday at 10! Long live the Great Communist Party of China! May this autumn's sorghum harvest be bountiful! We good now China?" 

In a statement Tuesday, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV indicated the decision not to air the NBA games was prompted by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s remarks in Japan after a tweet by Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey last week that supported anti-government demonstrations in Hong Kong. 

The broadcaster also is reviewing all its cooperation and exchanges involving the NBA, said the statement posted to CCTV Sports’ official social media account.

“We’re strongly dissatisfied and oppose Adam Silver’s claim to support Morey’s right to freedom of expression,” CCTV said. “We believe that any remarks that challenge national sovereignty and social stability are not within the scope of freedom of speech.”

Contributing: The Associated Press.

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2019/10/08/south-park-issues-sarcastic-apology-critical-china-episode/3905916002/

2019-10-08 10:28:00Z
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