Overview
- Chinese authorities selectively removed social media posts and blocked search terms that used Winnie the Pooh imagery to mock Xi Jinping, rather than banning the character outright.
- Winnie the Pooh merchandise, books, and character meet-and-greets continued in China, including dedicated attractions at Shanghai Disneyland.
- The meme linking Xi to Pooh began with a 2013 photo of Xi and Barack Obama and gained traction in 2014 during Xi’s meeting with Japan’s Shinzo Abe.
- Christopher Robin did not receive a Chinese theatrical release in 2018 without an official explanation, as the 34-film foreign quota and commercial considerations likely influenced distribution decisions.
- John Oliver’s 2018 segment amplified global attention to the comparisons, after which HBO’s website was blocked in China, and analysts said the crackdown sought to protect presidential dignity but fueled a Streisand effect.