One of China鈥檚 best-known comedians is under investigation and several of his shows have been canceled after he changed the lyrics of a revolutionary song during a performance.
Guo Degang, the country鈥檚 most prominent performer of traditional xiangsheng, a form of Chinese comedic dialogue, is under investigation by local authorities in the city of Wuhan in central China, local media reported. Guo’s show on Friday in the northwestern city of Xi鈥檃n was canceled due to 鈥渧enue issues,” a statement on ticketing platform Damai released by his promotion company showed.
The company offered refunds for tickets as well as travel and hotel expenses. The exhibition center hosting the performance in Xi鈥檃n, which also cited 鈥渧enue issues鈥� on Wednesday, said the show had been 鈥減ostponed,鈥� without giving a new date.
Local media reports said several of Guo鈥檚 shows scheduled in August across cities were canceled.
The investigation highlights of the entertainment and arts industries, where performers and artists have to navigate an environment where 鈥渞ed lines鈥� are often unclear and shifting.
Guo was reported to Wuhan’s culture and tourism authorities after he changed a lyric from 鈥渋t is quiet along Weishan Lake鈥� to 鈥渋t is quiet in the Forbidden City鈥� while performing at a show in the city last month, according to local media reports and videos shown on social media platforms.
The Forbidden City, once home to China鈥檚 emperors for hundreds of years, is now a museum that attracts over 10 million visitors each year.
Neither Guo nor his show promotor immediately responded to the AP鈥檚 emails seeking for comment on Saturday.
Guo鈥檚 performance had been approved in advance by local authorities in Wuhan, but the lyric change had not, which may have violated regulations governing commercial performances according to The Paper, a Shanghai-based news outlet.
The lyrics are from 鈥淧laying My Beloved Pipa,鈥� a song from Railway Guerrilla, a well-known 1950s film about Communist-led guerrillas fighting Japanese forces during World War II. Pipa is a traditional Chinese stringed instrument, similar to a lute.
It is a popular song among the public. It was once played at CCTV Spring Festival gala in 1998, and was also selected in 2019 by the Chinese Communist Party鈥檚 Publicity Department as one of 100 songs recommended to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People鈥檚 Republic of China.
Guo is widely considered as the one who brought xiangsheng closer to the younger generation in China. The traditional art form was more regional and more popular among the older audience.
This is not the first time that performers facing consequences over their work on stage. In 2023, comedian Li Haoshi, known by his stage name House, sparked controversy after describing dogs chasing squirrels with a military slogan. Xiaoguo Culture Media, the company he worked for, was later fined 14.7 million yuan ($2.13 million), and Li has not appeared in public performances in mainland China since.
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