'Comedy Banned in China Goes Global'

After a sweeping ban by Beijing in 2023 for jokes about Xi, the once‑top Chinese comedian Chizi has turned the tables and taken his act to cities that once were off‑limits. The 30‑year‑old, real name Wang Yuechi, rolled out a sold‑out tour starting in Taipei, followed by gigs in Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

On stage he still pokes sight‑seers at the edge of politics but stays clear of direct criticism. For example, he refers to Xi as “Peng Liyuan’s husband”, a nod that slips between a joke and a warning. He also turned his experiences from northern‑America tours into playful comments on censorship, nationalism and minority rights, topics that are taboo in China.

‘If it feels risky, I find it interesting,’ Chizi told the BBC. The comedian sees the risk as a challenge and emphasizes that he wants to connect with Chinese audiences worldwide, sharing life lessons and humor that feels utterly familiar.

The ban, announced quietly in February 2023, killed his Chinese media presence; his profile on Weibo was taken down, and fans’ accounts were suspended for sharing his photos. Yet instead of hiding, Chizi embraced the freedom abroad and vowed there are no regrets.

He hopes the tour will extend to Australia, New Zealand and North America, where he envisions meeting thousands of new fans, ‘making 500 friends at once’ on stage. As the global comedy circuit opens, Chizi’s move signals that humor can survive even the tightest government controls.

— Snapscope News