Page 14 - aruba-today-20200910

A14 PEOPLE & ARTS
Thursday 10 sepTember 2020
Disney criticized for filming 'Mulan' in China's Xinjiang

By JUWON PARK lice when they were ac-
AP Entertainment Writer cused of using excessive
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — force against Hong Kong
Disney is under fire for film- pro-democracy protesters.
ing part of its live-action Donnie Yen, a renowned
reboot "Mulan" in Xinjiang, Hong Kong star who plays
the region in China where Mulan's regiment leader
the government has been Commander Tung, also
accused of human rights drew ire from Hong Kong
abuses against Uighurs and protesters for his pro-China
other predominantly Mus- stance.
lim minorities. Alan Horn, co-chairman
The final credits in the film, and chief creative officer
which was released on Dis- of The Walt Disney Studios,
ney Plus last week and is said in February that the
being rolled out in several company doesn't want to
countries this month, thank be dragged into a political
propaganda departments discussion.
in Xinjiang and the public "I can't speak for what Yifei
security bureau of Turpan, says in China, we didn't
a Uighur-majority city in the know about it, what she
region. In this March 9, 2020, file photo, Yifei Liu, star of the new live-action "Mulan," poses at the premiere was going to say, and
Human rights activists and of the film at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles. that's up to them," he said
some China experts have Associated Press during a roundtable ses-
taken to social media to tions. beaten and deprived of huang, according to direc- sion with other entertain-
condemn Disney for turn- Uighurs and other predomi- food. tor Niki Caro's Instagram ment executives including
ing a blind eye to alleged nantly Muslim minorities in "There is no so-called reed- posts. The movie has been from Netflix and Warner
abuses in Xinjiang. They ac- the remote Xinjiang region ucation camp in Xinjiang," partially filmed in New Zea- Brothers.
cuse the American enter- have been locked up in foreign ministry spokesper- land as well. He did note the impor-
prise of kowtowing to Chi- camps as part of a gov- son Zhao Lijian said when Disney did not reply to a re- tance of the Chinese mar-
na for access to its lucrative ernment assimilation cam- asked about the Mulan quest for comment. ket, where Mulan opens
movie market, the second- paign launched in response controversy on Tuesday. The film, which is a remake Friday. "If 'Mulan' doesn't
largest in the world. to decades of sometimes "The establishment of the of the popular 1998 anima- work in China, we have a
Amnesty International violent struggle against Chi- vocational education and tion, is based on the ancient problem," he said with a
tweeted a link to a media nese rule. Some have been training centers in Xinjiang Chinese tale of Hua Mulan, laugh.
report on the controversy subjected to forced steril- is a positive attempt and a young woman who takes It's a crucial time for Disney.
and asked Disney, "Can ization and abortion, and active exploration of pre- her father's place in the In August, the American
you show us your human in recent months, ordered ventive counterterrorism army by dressing as a man. entertainment conglomer-
rights due diligence re- to drink traditional Chinese and deradicalization. ... The remake was no strang- ate said its net income fell
port?" A Washington Post medicines to combat the There have been no violent er to controversies even dramatically after having
opinion contributor called coronavirus outbreak. terrorist attacks in Xinjiang before its release. to close theme parks tem-
the movie a scandal, and Chinese authorities defend for more than three years." Last year, a boycott move- porarily and cancel theat-
one widely shared tweet the camps as job training In addition to Xinjiang, the ment was sparked when rical releases because of

suggested the Mulan crew centers, though former de- Mulan team has scouted the lead actor, Liu Yifei, a the coronavirus pandemic.
would have seen "reedu- tainees describe them as and filmed in multiple lo- Chinese-American origi- Disney has high hopes for
cation camps" for Uighurs prison-like facilities where cations in China including nally from Wuhan, publicly the Mulan remake, one
en route to filming loca- they were humiliated, the cities of Xi'an and Dun- supported Hong Kong po- of its most expensive pro-
ductions ever. It is pushing
Former WWE wrestlers’ lawsuit over brain damage is dismissed limited theatrical releases
in some countries and put-
ting the movie on its Dis-
By DAVE COLLINS filed after the statute of lim- disclosed causes. Other ney+ streaming service
Associated Press itations expired. Stamford, plaintiffs have dementia for $29.99, on top of the
A federal appeals court dis- Connecticut-based WWE and other illnesses, the law- monthly subscription.
missed a lawsuit Wednes- denied the suit's allega- suit said. However, the film's explicit
day that had been filed tions. The lawsuit, which also credits to Xinjiang authori-
by 50 former pro wrestlers, Among the plaintiffs were named WWE Chairman ties have reignited the
many of them stars in the Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, Jo- Vince McMahon as a de- boycott movement. q
1980s and 1990s, who seph "Road Warrior Animal" fendant, said the organiza-
claimed World Wrestling Laurinaitis, Paul "Mr. Won- tion knew the risks of head Solution Sudoku
Entertainment failed to derful" Orndorff, Chris "King injuries but didn't warn the
protect them from repeat- Kong Bundy" Pallies and wrestlers.
ed head injuries, includ- Harry Masayoshi Fujiwara, The lawyer for the former
ing concussions that led to known as Mr. Fuji. wrestlers, Konstantine Kyros,
long-term brain damage. Snuka and Fujiwara died based in Hingham, Massa-
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court in 2017 and 2016, respec- chusetts, called the ruling
of Appeals in New York tively, and were diagnosed a "rubber stamp" of Bryant's
In this Nov. 2, 2015, file photo, City agreed with a federal with chronic traumatic en- decision and "utterly de-
former professional wrestler judge in Connecticut who cephalopathy, or CTE, af- void of any original reason-
Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka leaves tossed the lawsuits two ter their deaths, according ing or engagement with
Lehigh County Courthouse in years ago, saying many of to their lawyer. the legal issues raised in the
Allentown, Pa.
Associated Press the claims were frivolous or Pallies died last year of un- wrestlers' appeal."q Puzzle on Page 13