Disney+ removes ‘Simpsons’ episode with ‘forced labor camps’ in Hong Kong
Disney+ removed an episode of “The Simpsons” that references Chinese “forced labor camps” for Hong Kong users.
The episode in question, “One Angry Lisa,” aired during the show’s latest season, its 34th, in October.
The installment appears to have been removed because of Chinese security law that has led to more censorship in Hong Kong.
In one scene, Marge Simpson takes a spin class and is shown images of The Great Wall of China.
“Behold the wonders of China: Bitcoin mines, forced labor camps where children make smartphones,” the exercise instructor says.
China has denied using forced labor despite numerous reports that ethnic minorities in the country’s western region had been enslaved.
It’s unclear when the episode was removed, but it marked the second time a “Simpsons” episode disappeared for Hong Kong subscribers.
Disney+ previously removed an episode in Nov. 2021 that made references and jokes about the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre and Mao.
In that episode, “Goo Goo Gai Pan” from 2005, Homer Simpson describes Mao Zedong as “like a little angle that killed 50 million people,” as well as visual gag of a sign near the famous site that reads, “On this site, in 1989, nothing happened,” and a recreation of the iconic image of a pro-democracy protester facing down a tank.
Disney+ is not available in mainland China. Disney is releasing two Marvel movies in China — the second largest box office market — this month.
The Financial Times first reported the removal Monday.
