China’s issue with Winnie the Pooh stems from an internet meme that began around 2013, comparing Chinese President Xi Jinping to the fictional bear. This comparison started after side-by-side images of Xi and then-U.S. President Barack Obama walking together were juxtaposed with Winnie the Pooh and his friend Tigger. The meme went viral, and subsequent images comparing Xi to Pooh became a symbol of subtle protest or mockery of the Chinese leader.
The Chinese government, known for its strict control of online discourse and criticism, reacted by censoring images of Winnie the Pooh on Chinese social media and blocking references to the character. The censorship was seen as an attempt to suppress any form of mockery directed at Xi, even if it was seemingly harmless.
In 2017, the censorship escalated when the Chinese government banned Christopher Robin, a live-action movie featuring the character, from being released in the country. This move further demonstrated the government’s sensitivity to even trivial comparisons or jokes that could be perceived as undermining Xi’s authority or public image.
Essentially, what started as an internet meme poking fun at Xi Jinping spiralled into a broader censorship effort, symbolizing China’s intolerance for any form of dissent or satire targeting its leadership, even when it comes from something as light-hearted as Winnie the fucking Pooh.
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