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Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter/Producer
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International

China censors ‘Simpsons’ episode over reference to forced labor

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Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter/Producer
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Shows like “The Simpsons,” “South Park,” and “Family Guy” are known for their colorful humor, but sometimes it can get them in trouble with countries that don’t find their jokes funny. The latest example comes from the latest season of “The Simpsons.” One of the episodes makes a reference to forced labor camps in China, but the Chinese government denies all allegations of forced labor.

Disney Plus is hoping to avoid trouble with China’s censorship laws by cutting the episode from its streaming service in Hong Kong. People in China won’t be able to watch Marge Simpson poke fun at the Chinese government.

People in mainland China can’t even access Disney Plus. Marvel movies have been banned for three years in China, but this year, China is allowing two Marvel films to be released.

For Marge Simpson, she’s going to have to keep her punchlines to herself.

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SIMPSONS EPISODE CENSORED IN CHINA

KARAH RUCKER: SHOWS LIKE THE SIMPSONS, SOUTH PARK, AND FAMILY GUY ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR COLORFUL HUMOR. BUT SOMETIMES IT CAN GET THEM IN TROUBLE WITH COUNTRIES THAT DON’T FIND THEIR JOKES FUNNY.

EPISODE REFERENCES FORCED LABOR CAMPS

THE LATEST EXAMPLE COMES FROM THE LATEST SEASON OF THE SIMPSONS. ONE OF THEIR EPISODES MAKES A REFERENCE TO “FORCED LABOR CAMPS” IN CHINA. BUT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT DENIES ALL ALLEGATIONS OF FORCED LABOR.

DISNEY PLUS CUTS EPISODE IN HONG KONG

DISNEY PLUS, HOPING TO AVOID TROUBLE WITH CHINA’S CENSORSHIP LAWS, HAS CUT THE EPISODE FROM ITS STREAMING SERVICE IN HONG KONG. PEOPLE IN CHINA WON’T BE ABLE TO WATCH MARGE SIMPSON POKE FUN AT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.

MARVEL MOVIES RETURN TO CHINA AFTER BAN
DID YOU KNOW PEOPLE IN THE MAINLAND OF CHINA CAN’T EVEN ACCESS DISNEY PLUS? AND MARVEL MOVIES HAVE BEEN BANNED FOR THREE YEARS THERE. BUT THIS YEAR, CHINA IS ALLOWING TWO OF THEIR FILMS TO BE RELEASED.

BUT FOR MARGE SIMPSON, SHE’S GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP HER PUNCHLINES TO HERSELF.

SIMPSON’S CLIP: “As an ordinary housewife, I’m starting to feel a little disrespected. I teach my children not to name call, Jena. I was going to say I’m a little pissed off, but I’m afraid they’d bleep it.”