Zedd has revealed he has been permanently banned from China. According to the German DJ, he’s not allowed to enter the country in the near future after liking a tweet in reference to US sitcom South Park. It had been about an episode, titled Band In China, that criticises the censorship of the Chinese government. China has banned the Comedy Central series and has removed all references to the show from its internet. Now, Zedd has revealed he’s no longer allowed in China and has been asked to cancel any scheduled shows he had in the country. Taking to Instagram, he told followers: ‘I just got permanently banned from China because I liked a @southpark tweet. Just to clarify this is NOT a joke.
‘The government informed our promoters that if they don’t cancel my scheduled shows in China, they would pull their cultural permits.’ Jeeze. Zedd’s publicist later confirmed the news to CNBC, adding: ‘This is true, yes, but we don’t have any more info to give you at this time.’ South Park doesn’t officially air in China, but many people in the country watch the series via the internet.
Any reference or link to South Park has officially been wiped off China’s internet. The show’s creators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, has released a statement offering an ‘official apology’ to China amid the drama. Tweeting a link to the full episode, Stone and Parker wrote: ‘Like the NBA, we welcome the Chinese censors into our homes and into our hearts. We too love money more than freedom and democracy. Rebekah Vardy in floods of tears as she arrives home amid Coleen Rooney's bombshell claims ‘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?’
The Chinese government previously censored any mention of Winnie The Pooh after many began comparing Chinese president Xi Jinping to the character.