The joke that cost $2 million: China imposes huge fine for comedian’s army-themed quip
CNN
23-05-17 09:00
A Chinese entertainment firm has been fined $2m due to a joke made by a comedian which loosely referenced a slogan used to describe China’s military. The incident highlights how comedians must tread a delicate line given censorship in China. Li Haoshi, known by his stage name House, was performing at the Century Theater in Beijing when he used a phrase associated with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism stated that the company was “seriously insulting” the military and “causing bad social impact”.