Chinese internet censors crack down on winnie the pooh

The beloved Winnie the Pooh!

Yes, you're right. In 2013, Chinese internet censors began cracking down on Winnie the Pooh content online, particularly on social media platforms like Sina Weibo and WeChat. The reason behind this censorship was due to the perceived resemblance between Winnie the Pooh and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The comparison between the two was made due to their similar physical appearance, with both having a round face and a similar posture. This led to a surge in online memes and jokes comparing Xi Jinping to Winnie the Pooh, which was seen as a form of disrespect and a threat to the Chinese government's authority.

As a result, the Chinese government began censoring Winnie the Pooh content online, including deleting posts, blocking hashtags, and even restricting access to Winnie the Pooh-themed merchandise. The censorship was so severe that it became known as the "Winnie the Pooh ban."

The ban was not limited to just Winnie the Pooh content, but also extended to other Disney characters, such as Tigger and Eeyore, who were also seen as potential threats to the government's authority.

The censorship was met with widespread criticism from human rights groups and free speech advocates, who saw it as an example of the Chinese government's increasing efforts to control and manipulate online discourse.

In recent years, the ban on Winnie the Pooh content has been relaxed, and some Winnie the Pooh-themed merchandise has been allowed to be sold online again. However, the incident remains a notable example of the Chinese government's efforts to control online speech and maintain its authority.