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Hasan Piker’s Tiananmen Livestream Briefly Halted by Chinese Security After Mao Meme

The episode underscores Tiananmen Square’s strict filming rules, with outlets noting a brief review of footage and no verified detention.

Overview

  • Chinese police approached Piker’s group moments after a phone displayed an AI image of Mao in Piker’s likeness and instructed them to stop and show recent footage.
  • The Twitch stream cut to black with an intermission message and later resumed, with Piker and companions continuing toward the flag-raising ceremony.
  • During the broadcast, Piker said he has no patriotism for America, a remark that quickly circulated on social platforms and drew polarized reactions.
  • Newsweek and Hindustan Times describe police reviewing content and the stream resuming, while some opinion outlets alleged detention and phone confiscation that remain unconfirmed.
  • Piker later downplayed the interaction in follow-up comments, contrasting it with his past experiences with U.S. and European police, as debate over censorship in China intensified online.