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(CNN) – Disney’s live-action remake of “Mulan” is out now, but some people won’t see it.
Pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong are reigniting calls for a boycott of the film, now joining activists in Thailand and Taiwan. The calls erupted last year when the film’s lead actress, Liu Yifei, expressed support for the Hong Kong police, whom anti-government protesters accuse of using excessive force to quell the unrest.
“This movie opens today. But because Disney bows to Beijing and because Liu Yifei openly and proudly supports police brutality in Hong Kong, I urge all who believe in human rights to #BoycottMulan,” the prominent activist tweeted Hong Kong’s Joshua Wong on Friday. .
Yifei, a Chinese-born American citizen, weighed in on the conversation last year at the height of protests in Hong Kong, which began as largely peaceful demonstrations and eventually escalated into frequent clashes between protesters and police.
“I support the Hong Kong police. Everyone can attack me now. Shame on Hong Kong,” he posted on Weibo in August 2019.
Calls to boycott “Mulan” followed immediately after and soon, #BoycottMulan was trending on Twitter, which is banned in China. Meanwhile, comments about Yifei’s posting on Weibo, China’s dominant social platform, echoed his support for the Hong Kong and Beijing police.
International audiences are key for ‘Mulan’
Now, after multiple delays due to the coronavirus pandemic, “Mulan” is on Disney + in the United States and will soon hit theaters abroad. International audiences, particularly in China, are a key part of the film’s theatrical strategy.
But tensions remain high in Hong Kong after Beijing imposed a controversial national security law on the city in June.
And now, renewed calls to boycott “Mulan” have also spread to activists in Thailand and Taiwan, driven in large part by #MilkTeaAlliance, an online movement that unites pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, Thailand and Taiwan with concerns about the influence of China. in the region.
In recent weeks, Thailand has witnessed demonstrations with thousands of people calling for reforms of the country’s monarchy. Many protesters in Hong Kong have expressed support for the movement, while protesters in Thailand and Taiwan support those in Hong Kong who are calling for a boycott of “Mulan.”
“I invite everyone to #boycottMulan #banMulan to let Disney and the Chinese government know that state violence against the people is unacceptable,” tweeted Thai student activist Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal, according to The Guardian.
But in China, where people supported Yifei’s comments last year, the film is expected to be a hit with audiences. The film will open in theaters on September 11.
This story was first published on CNN.com. Pro-democracy activists are again calling on people to boycott ‘Mulan’
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