One of China's most prominent comedians is under investigation by authorities in Wuhan after altering the lyrics of a revolutionary song during a performance last month. Guo Degang, a celebrated performer of xiangsheng, a traditional comedic dialogue form, has also seen several of his scheduled shows for August canceled.
Local media reported that Guo changed a lyric from "it is quiet along Weishan Lake" to "it is quiet in the Forbidden City" while performing in Wuhan. The original lyric is from "Playing My Beloved Pipa," a song featured in "Railway Guerrilla," a 1950s film about Communist guerrillas fighting Japanese forces. The song has historical significance and was included in a list of 100 recommended songs by the Chinese Communist Party's Publicity Department in 2019.
The alteration was not approved by local authorities, potentially violating regulations for commercial performances, according to The Paper, a Shanghai-based news outlet. Guo's performance in Wuhan had received prior approval, but the specific lyric change was not cleared.
Following the incident, Guo's shows in Xi'an, scheduled for Friday and Wednesday, were canceled, with the venue citing "venue issues." His promotion company stated the shows were "postponed" without providing new dates and offered refunds for tickets, as well as travel and hotel expenses. Reports indicate several other August performances across various cities have also been canceled.
The investigation and cancellations underscore China's increasingly stringent controls and evolving censorship within its entertainment and arts sectors. Performers often navigate a landscape where guidelines can be ambiguous and subject to change.
This is not the first instance of performers facing repercussions for their stage work. In 2023, comedian Li Haoshi, known as House, encountered controversy after associating dogs chasing squirrels with a military slogan. His employer, Xiaoguo Culture Media, was fined approximately $2.13 million, and Li has not performed publicly in mainland China since.