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| South Park China: Writers 'apologise' after Beijing censorship | South Park China: Writers 'apologise' after Beijing censorship |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The makers of US TV comedy South Park have issued a mock apology to China after the show was made largely unavailable in the country. | The makers of US TV comedy South Park have issued a mock apology to China after the show was made largely unavailable in the country. |
| In a recent episode, the character Randy is subjected to forced labour and Communist Party re-education after being jailed during a visit to China. | In a recent episode, the character Randy is subjected to forced labour and Communist Party re-education after being jailed during a visit to China. |
| Most South Park episodes and reviews are now unavailable online in China. | Most South Park episodes and reviews are now unavailable online in China. |
| "We welcome the Chinese censors into our homes and hearts," the apology said. "Long live the Communist Party!" | "We welcome the Chinese censors into our homes and hearts," the apology said. "Long live the Communist Party!" |
| What happens in the episode? | What happens in the episode? |
| In "Band in China", Randy Marsh travels to China to try to expand his marijuana business. | In "Band in China", Randy Marsh travels to China to try to expand his marijuana business. |
| He is arrested, sent to prison, and subjected to forced labour and re-education. | He is arrested, sent to prison, and subjected to forced labour and re-education. |
| In one scene, Randy is seen standing in the rain while a guard gives him an electric shock. | In one scene, Randy is seen standing in the rain while a guard gives him an electric shock. |
| "I am a proud member of the Communist Party," Randy then reads from a card. "The party is more important than the individual." | "I am a proud member of the Communist Party," Randy then reads from a card. "The party is more important than the individual." |
| He then sees a guard shoot a prisoner in the head, before being sent to an overcrowded cell where he starts a conversation with Winnie the Pooh and Piglet. | He then sees a guard shoot a prisoner in the head, before being sent to an overcrowded cell where he starts a conversation with Winnie the Pooh and Piglet. |
| In 2017, images of Winnie the Pooh were blocked in China because people compared him to the Chinese president, Xi Jinping. | In 2017, images of Winnie the Pooh were blocked in China because people compared him to the Chinese president, Xi Jinping. |
| "Some people said Pooh looked like the Chinese president, so we're illegal in China now," says Piglet. | "Some people said Pooh looked like the Chinese president, so we're illegal in China now," says Piglet. |
| "Jesus," replies Randy. "What kind of madhouse is this?" | "Jesus," replies Randy. "What kind of madhouse is this?" |
| What was the reaction in China? | What was the reaction in China? |
| Since the episode was shown in the US last week, searching for "South Park" on the Chinese social media site Weibo shows "no relevant results have been found". | Since the episode was shown in the US last week, searching for "South Park" on the Chinese social media site Weibo shows "no relevant results have been found". |
| The show has been removed from China's various video websites, including Bilibili, iQiyi, Youku and le.com. Although some searches show a brief introduction, they're not playable. | The show has been removed from China's various video websites, including Bilibili, iQiyi, Youku and le.com. Although some searches show a brief introduction, they're not playable. |
| On Douban, a famous film review website in China, search results show that "according to relevant laws, regulations and policies, search results are not displayed". | On Douban, a famous film review website in China, search results show that "according to relevant laws, regulations and policies, search results are not displayed". |
| On China's popular search engine Baidu, "South Park" still returns results - but most of the entries are old news. The top-ranked result criticises the show for its negative impact on teenagers. | On China's popular search engine Baidu, "South Park" still returns results - but most of the entries are old news. The top-ranked result criticises the show for its negative impact on teenagers. |
| Some people have got around the ban by using "S23E02" (Season 23, Episode 2) to discuss the show on Weibo. | |
| How did South Park's makers respond? | How did South Park's makers respond? |
| On Twitter, the show's writers Trey Parker and Matt Stone issued an "official apology to China". | On Twitter, the show's writers Trey Parker and Matt Stone issued an "official apology to China". |
| "Like the NBA [National Basketball Association], we welcome the Chinese censors into our homes and into our hearts," it said. | "Like the NBA [National Basketball Association], we welcome the Chinese censors into our homes and into our hearts," it said. |
| "We too love money more than freedom and democracy. Xi doesn't look just like Winnie the Pooh at all. | "We too love money more than freedom and democracy. Xi doesn't look just like Winnie the Pooh at all. |
| "Long live the Great Communist Party of China! May this autumn's sorghum [a cereal crop] harvest be bountiful! We good now China?" | "Long live the Great Communist Party of China! May this autumn's sorghum [a cereal crop] harvest be bountiful! We good now China?" |
| The NBA reference follows US basketball coach Daryl Morey backtracking after tweeting support for the Hong Kong protesters. | The NBA reference follows US basketball coach Daryl Morey backtracking after tweeting support for the Hong Kong protesters. |
| Mr Morey's tweet led to his team, the Houston Rockets, having their games pulled from Chinese TV, as well as Chinese sponsors withdrawing support. | Mr Morey's tweet led to his team, the Houston Rockets, having their games pulled from Chinese TV, as well as Chinese sponsors withdrawing support. |
| The NBA said Mr Morey's comments were "regrettable", while Rockets player James Harden said: "We apologise. We love China." | The NBA said Mr Morey's comments were "regrettable", while Rockets player James Harden said: "We apologise. We love China." |
| Mr Morey later said: "I have had a lot of opportunity since that tweet to hear and consider other perspectives." | Mr Morey later said: "I have had a lot of opportunity since that tweet to hear and consider other perspectives." |
| How much does China censor? | How much does China censor? |
| Twitter and Facebook are not available to most users, Google is blocked, while in May, Wikipedia announced all versions of its site were also unavailable. | Twitter and Facebook are not available to most users, Google is blocked, while in May, Wikipedia announced all versions of its site were also unavailable. |
| China's internet operates something like an intranet where only information deemed appropriate is freely available - often referred to as the Great Firewall of China. | |
| Chinese newspapers and TV are under Communist Party control, while certain words and phrases are censored on Chinese social media. | Chinese newspapers and TV are under Communist Party control, while certain words and phrases are censored on Chinese social media. |
| Reports from the Hong Kong protests have been limited, while people can be banned for discussing sensitive issues. | Reports from the Hong Kong protests have been limited, while people can be banned for discussing sensitive issues. |
| "A friend of mine just got his WeChat [a Chinese messaging platform] account blocked for three days after he had a conversation with his friend talking about China's legal system, and reform of the legal system," Chinese journalist Karoline Kan told the BBC in September. | "A friend of mine just got his WeChat [a Chinese messaging platform] account blocked for three days after he had a conversation with his friend talking about China's legal system, and reform of the legal system," Chinese journalist Karoline Kan told the BBC in September. |