#BoycottMulan trends after Disney actress shares political post
#BoycottMulan is trending on Twitter over a pro-police social media post by Chinese-American actress Liu Yifei.
Yifei, who is starring in Disney’s live-action remake of Mulan, the 1998 animated film about a female warrior during China’s Han dynasty, made a political post on the microblogging site Weibo.
Sharing a photo from the Chinese paper People’s Daily that reads, "I support Hong Kong's police, you can beat me up now” (as roughly translated, according to Newsweek), Yifei added, “What a shame for Hong Kong” and “I also support Hong Kong police...”
For the past two months, protests have stormed Hong Kong over an extradition bill that would send alleged criminals to China to stand trial. Since 1997, Hong Kong and China have co-existed as "one country, two systems," and will remain so until 2047, per the colonial British deal. If the bill passes, contextualizes the Guardian, there is potential for Chinese courts to rule with bias.
In June, reported NPR, Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam apologized for proposing the bill, but demands for her resignation and an end to police brutality have kept the territory in chaos. According to CNBC, Chinese authorities called for an end to “deranged acts” by violent protesters, particularly against police officers.
Yifei’s statement drew lines on social media and drove hostility toward Disney, which will release Mulan in March 2020. “Disney’s Mulan actress, Liu Yifei, supports police brutality and oppression in Hong Kong,” tweeted Twitter user @sdnorton. “Liu is a naturalized American citizen. it must be nice. meanwhile she pisses on people fighting for democracy. retweet please. HK doesn’t get enough support.”
Disney’s Mulan actress, Liu Yifei, supports police brutality and oppression in Hong Kong.
Liu is a naturalized American citizen. it must be nice. meanwhile she pisses on people fighting for democracy.
retweet please. HK doesn’t get enough support. #BoycottMulan @Disney pic.twitter.com/FpECIdutH2— sean norton 🌹 (@sdnorton) August 15, 2019
if you’re wondering why an extradition bill is important, then you’re probably not aware of how terrible China is—
women are currently being sterilized in Xinjiang “re-education” camps, which hold potentially *hundreds of thousands* of ethnic Uyghurs. https://t.co/WIxX8cjdhy— sean norton 🌹 (@sdnorton) August 15, 2019
The lead actress of @Disney remake of #Mulan, #LiuYifei, has lent her support to the oppressive #Chinese regime in suppressing freedoms; the very same she enjoys & benefits from overseas that #Hongkongers fight for at home. Time to #BoycottMulan 🤷?♂?#FreeHongKong #LiberateHongKong pic.twitter.com/d74CjXBCQQ
— 何祺鋒 Anthony (@AnthonyKFHo) August 15, 2019
She is living in a country with freedom of speech, yet she supports communism and brutality of police.. #BoycottMulan @Disney pic.twitter.com/Krr9ID1bGU
— 🇭🇰BtoB 💙 SHINee (@theodorahkk) August 15, 2019
If you’re a Hong Konger or are supporting our cause. #boycottMulan https://t.co/QwseYuA59Y
— Shirly K Adhiwal (@dalj_k) August 15, 2019
#boycottmulan @Disney why does your company support a Chinese actress who openly supports a suppressive regime?
— Mushy (@Mushytaco2016) August 15, 2019
To whom it may concern. Do not watch the live action Mulan movie. Lead actress Liu Yifei/Crystal Liu supports the police brutality currently being seen in Hong Kong. She spits in the face of democracy, freedom, and human rights.#BoycottMulan pic.twitter.com/1FigNU2oVt
— Gorgon (@GorgonDeDragon) August 15, 2019
Representatives for Disney and Yifei did not return Yahoo Entertainment’s requests for comment.
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