When the film star was asked about reports he was now blacklisted, Yun-Fat replied, “I’ll just make less [films in China] then.”
Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-Fat, known to the West mainly through the 2000 blockbuster film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” is reportedly now banned from making movies in China.
Recently, the actor met with students protesting the communist government of China which has recently taken over control of Hong Kong.
After meeting with students, he gave public comments in which he did not support the new government:
“I’ve met the residents, the students. They are very brave, and it’s touching to see that they’re fighting for what they want. The students are reasonable. If the government can come up with a solution that the citizens or students are satisfied with, I believe the crisis will end,” Yun-Fat told Apple Daily.
Commenting on the use of teargas by police at the demonstrations, he said, “When the government uses violent measures on students, it’s a turn-off for the people of Hong Kong. I don’t wish to see anyone getting hurt.”
Other Hong Kong stars also commented publicly on the issue, siding with protesters, but have not been reported to be blacklisted, including Andy Lau and Tony Leung Chiu-wai.
Lau said there should be “no tear gas, no violence, no abuse,” and Leung said, “I support all the people of Hong Kong who peacefully ask for what they want and protest the government’s use of excessive force against people who have gathered peacefully, and hope the government can quickly arrange for sincere talks with the people.”
Others stars, including Hong Kong-born Jackie Chan, supported Beijing in aggressively quelling the demonstrations.
Chan expressed concern about the cost of the protests in dollars, advocating a “return to rationality,” echoing comments he’d made years earlier that “there should be rules to determine what people can protest about and on what issues they can’t protest about,” and that “Chinese people need to be controlled.”
Yun-Fat is just the most recent of a long list of entertainers and others who have been banned or blacklisted by China.
Latest news on Chow Yun-Fat: HK actor to give away entire $714million fortune to charity