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Topics: World News, Keanu Reeves, Celebrity, Film and TV, China
Shola Lee
Topics: World News, Keanu Reeves, Celebrity, Film and TV, China
Keanu Reeves' films have reportedly been removed from Chinese streaming platforms over his support of Tibet.
Films including The Matrix, Something's Gotta Give and Speed were said to be pulled from platforms Tencent Video and iQiyi after the actor participated in the annual Tibet House Benefit Concert on 3 March.
According to the Los Angeles Times, 19 films starring Reeves were removed from Tencent Video, while a search for the actor on iQiyi now shows: "Sorry, no results related to ‘Keanu Reeves’ were found."
It then adds: "Due to relevant laws, regulations and policies, some results are not shown."
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Alex Yu, a researcher from the China Digital Times said of the removal: "Why all of a sudden did they decide to take this measure at this exact moment? It’s a question we as outsiders might never be able to answer."
"The system is so opaque that it’s pretty much impossible to pinpoint which agency or person is responsible," he added.
The event Reeves attended was the 35th annual Tibet House Benefit Concert earlier this month and was organised by Tibet House US, which is a New York based non-profit founded at the request of Tibetan Buddhism's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.
The Dalai Lama, who has been living in India since 1959 following China's annexation of Tibet, has been accused by Beijing of fermenting separatism, as per Reuters.
Tibet has been the subject of dispute for decades, with Beijing maintaining that Tibet is part of China, while Tibetans argue their country has been historically independent.
China has, in the past, blacklisted celebrities who supported the Dalai Lama, the former head of state. And now, it seems as if the country has now put Reeves on their blacklist with the film removal – although it is currently unclear when exactly this removal took place.
Patti Smith, Cyndi Lauper and Iggy Pop were also in attendance at the concert, the Independent reports.
Phillip Glass, the artistic director of the event said 'the benefit concert allows artists from different genres to gather and collaborate in a way that is singular to this [event]'. Glass added that 'the wide range of talent is remarkable'.
The event honours Tibetan culture and while it has been held online for the past two years, it was previously held at Carnegie Hall.
UNILAD has reached out to the streaming services for comment.
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