by A recent episode of the hit Fox animated series The Simpsons, referring to “forced labor camps” in China, has been removed from the Disney+ streaming service in Hong Kong. Yahoo Entertainment has confirmed reports that the episode “One Angry Lisa” is not available in the territory, which has been officially designated as a special administrative region of China. The Walt Disney Company, which owns it The Simpsonsdeclined further comment.
Reports that “One Angry Lisa” is not available to stream in Hong Kong have come from the Financial times. The episode premiered in the US on October 2, 2022 on the show’s old home on the Fox network and is currently available to stream domestically on Hulu. Since Hulu is not available in international locations like Hong Kong, Disney+ is bringing both new and classic episodes of the show abroad.
“One Angry Lisa” features a storyline where Homer Marge buys a Peloton-esque exercise bike, and she falls in love with a certain trainer named Jesse (voiced by old Simpsons cast member Hank Azaria). He is invited to join Jesse on a private ride and chooses China as their virtual location. “See the wonders of China,” says Jesse. “Bitcoin mines, forced labor camps where kids make smartphones and romance.” A jealous Homer interrupts the ride and gets into a fight with Jesse, with the Great Wall of China on screen behind them.
According to the Financial times And Business Insider, it is not known when “One Angry Lisa” may have been removed from Disney+ in Hong Kong. A national security law introduced in 2020 gives China broad authority over Hong Kong citizens and companies doing business in the region.
The Simpsons has seen episodes pulled from the Disney+ streaming service in Hong Kong in the past. In 2021, it was reported that the 2005 episode “Goo Goo Gai Pan” – in which the Simpsons visited Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, the site of famous student-led protests in 1989 – was no longer available in the region. Meanwhile, big Hollywood movies love Fight club And Minions: The Rise of Gru have been famously altered by Chinese censors for versions shown to the mainland.
The Simpsons airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on Fox and also streams on Disney+.
