The Boycott of Mulan, Hong Kong Protests

Written by Emily Chian

@emily.chian

Photos by Pixabay, Marco Pang

Disney has released a trailer of a live-action remake of Mulan. The 1998 animated version is fondly remembered by many, bringing up images and memes of a talking dragon, memorable tunes (Let’s get down to business, anyone?), and feudal army men. However, the upcoming release is currently a topic of controversy as it appears the film’s star, Yifei Liu, supports the Hong Kong Police Force’s brazen treatment towards Hong Kong’s protesters. 

In August, Yifei Liu posted “I support Hong Kong’s police, you can beat me up now” on China’s popular platform Weibo. Liu adds in English “What a shame for Hong Kong” along with the hashtag #ISupportTheHongKongPolice with a muscular and heart emoji. Her words were re-shared from Mainland China by state-run People’s Daily’s reporter Fu Guohao, and immediately sparked controversy as they were perceived as a show of support for the brazen treatment of protesters by police. 

Outside China, thousands of fans shared the hashtag #BoycottMulan with comments of “shame on her.” #BoycottMulan has been shared all over social media ahead of the film’s upcoming release this month. It had reached top trending hashtags worldwide on Twitter during Liu’s announcement and is circulating on social media across continents. Disney has yet to comment on the issue.

The Hong Kong Protests 

As you may or may not have heard, the Extradition Bill proposed last February sparked a mass protesting movement in the Hong Kong region. The bill states that criminal suspects in Hong Kong can be sent to Mainland China lawfully under Chinese governance—including those on the Chinese Communist Party’s blacklist. Protests have flooded Hong Kong streets since last June, with crowds often engaging in violent opposition with the police. High schools, colleges, and educated workers in the area conducted organized walk-outs and strikes, as well.  

Millions of citizens marched the streets to show their concerns, calling for leader Carrie Lam to scrap the bill and resign according to one of the Five Demands. The bill was suspended indefinitely this fall.

Yet, lawmakers say that it came four months too late. The number of those detained is in the thousands, and many believe the damage has been irreversible. The withdrawal still raises concerns about Hong Kong’s political scene and where it will go.

Yifei (Crystal) Liu was born in China and is a Chinese-American citizen. It is a known fact that Chinese celebrities often back the Chinese government’s propaganda to receive benefits and promotion in their careers. For Liu to announce her political stance on the world’s stage is not only detrimental to her reputation but shows how cynical and blatant she is—disgracing Disney and the film‘s upcoming release.

Whether you boycott Mulan or not, I hope you will understand what Yifei Liu is saying and be aware of what is going on overseas. Young students like us are risking their lives for a desperate call for action. Democracy is voiced by individuals who are concerned about their future while they face resistance from authoritative players. For freedom and peace to last in the Hong Kong region, preserving and pushing for the democratic state is the way of the future. The approaching film’s release and the enduring protests is a hot subject involving a variety of emotions.