Beijing orders blanket ban on Lady Gaga after meeting Dalai Lama
By Lobsang Tenchoe
DHARAMSALA, June 28: Enraged by Lady Gaga’s meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Beijing has ordered a blanket ban on Lady Gaga from all forms of media.
China’s State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT) has ordered a total ban of Lady Gaga in all forms of media, including television channels, radio stations, and music download websites, reports asiancorrespondent.com June 28.
The order issued on Monday followed the American pop star’s meeting with the Tibetan Spiritual leader on Sunday at the United States Conference of Mayors in Indianapolis, Indiana, where they discussed “the power of kindness and how to make the world a more compassionate place”.
The six time Grammy awardee also live-streamed an interview with the Tibetan leader on Facebook and posted several photos of the meeting on her instagram page, drawing huge criticism and backlash from her Chinese fans.
Shedding some light on the ban, the Publicity Department of China said, “we need to fight against any propaganda fanning the flames of Tibet independence movement,” reports asiancorrespondent.com June 28.
Although the Tibetan Noble laureate has adopted ‘Middle Way Policy’ to seek autonomy for Tibet rather than independence from China, the Chinese government frequently vilifies Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader for heading a separatist movement.
Lady Gaga is the latest in a long list of celebrities banned from china for their association with His Holiness, voicing their concern and expressing support for Tibet.
Lady Gaga, who is yet to hold a concert in mainland China, has previously faced censorship from the Chinese government in 2011 after the release of her album ‘Born This Way’, for ‘creating confusion in the order of the online music market, and damaging the nation’s cultural security’– which was eventually lifted in 2014.
Other celebrities banned in China
American pop star Selena Gomez was recently banned for her picture with His Holiness.
Richard Gere for his involvement in the Free Tibet movement; the actor faces a lifetime ban from entering the People’s Republic of China.
Brad Pitt was banned from china for starring in the film ‘Seven Years in Tibet’.
Icelandic singer-songwriter Björk was banned for chanting ‘Free Tibet’ during a concert in Shanghai in 2008.
Hollywood actor Harrison Ford was banned from China after testifying at the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee in support of an independent Tibet.
Noted film maker Martin Scorsese also faces ban because of his film titled ‘Kundun’ in 1997.
