China has banned comedian Chizi, formerly known as Wang Yuechi, from performing within the country after his performances abroad touched on sensitive political topics. Chizi, who had a significant following in China, now performs for Chinese-speaking audiences internationally, with his recent tour spanning Tokyo, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore, reportedly selling out each show.
One of Chizi's recent performances at the National University of Singapore drew a large crowd of Singaporean Chinese and visitors from mainland China. During his set, he made a joke about the extended tenure of Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which was met with applause and vocal approval from the audience. Chizi acknowledged the risks associated with such material, noting that public discussion of Xi's leadership is highly sensitive in China.
After a period of hiatus, Chizi returned to the stage in April for his current international tour. He described this tour as his first "real piece," emphasizing his desire to connect with audiences who speak Mandarin. "I wanted to perform for people who speak Chinese, to introduce myself, showing them how I live, or think as someone who lived in China for 30 years," he stated.
Chizi has been a stand-up comedian for over a decade. His current difficulties with Chinese authorities appear to stem from a series of performances outside of China that addressed topics deemed sensitive by the government. While no official reason has been given for his ban, Chizi has alluded to the severe restrictions he faces, writing on Threads that his image is treated as something that cannot be freely shown or circulated in China, citing an instance where a fan's social media account was suspended for sharing his photograph.