Chinese opera singer, 63, is censored on social media by Beijing because he looks too much like President Xi
- Liu Keqing bears a striking resemblance to the country’s leader Xi Jinping
- He said his account had been censored multiple times for ‘image violation’
- The Chinese musician shares singing tutorials on his social media platform
- Clips show the opera singer looking almost identical to the Communist leader
A renowned opera singer in China has reportedly been censored online regularly because he bears a striking resemblance to Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Liu Keqing, 63, has seen his social media account on Chinese TikTok-like Douyin blocked by the authorities multiple times because he ‘violates the leader’s looks’, according to various media reports.
China has been criticised for obsessively protecting President Xi’s image as the country has previously banned Winnie the Pooh after internet users compared him to the lovable bear in memes.
Liu Keqing (right) has seen his social media account on Chinese TikTok-like Douyin blocked by the authorities multiple times for looking too much like the Chinese President Xi Jinping (left)
The Chinese baritone, who lives in Berlin, has been sharing eccentric singing tutorials with his 41,000 followers on his current Douyin account since 2019.
Clips uploaded on Mr Liu’s page show him giving a passionate opera performance while looking almost identical to the Chinese national leader.
Mr Liu posted a video on May 10, claiming that his account had been censored by the social media platform for ‘image violation’, according to Radio Free International.
The musician reportedly wrote: ‘Dear friends, my Douyin account has been reported and banned because of my profile picture’s violation.’
He added: ‘I have provided my identification materials again, and I am currently waiting for approval. This is the third time that my account has been banned because of ‘image violation’.’
The Chinese baritone has been sharing eccentric singing tutorials with his 41,000 followers on his current Douyin account since 2019. Pictures above are screenshots from Mr Liu’s videos
China has been criticised for obsessively protecting President Xi’s image as the country has previously banned Winnie the Pooh after internet users compared him to the lovable bear in memes. Pictured, Chinese President Xi Jinping at the National People’s Congress on May 22
The original clip is believed to have been deleted from the opera singer’s page.
Mr Liu told The New York Times that he had opened another Douyin account before – but it was suddenly deleted by authorities after the profile picture resembled some of President Xi’s official portraits.
The opera singer is still active on his current social media platforms but many comments on his videos appear to remain blocked.
Mr Liu is not President Xi’s only doppelgänger – a food vendor in China became an internet sensation last year because he looked too much like the Chinese president.
Viral videos emerged in December show the unnamed Chinese man serving customers pork buns as he smiles and waves at the camera, highly resembling President Xi’s expressions.
Mr Liu is not President Xi’s first doppelgänger – a food vendor (pictured) in China became an internet sensation last year because he looked too much like the Chinese president
Officials are said to have banned Winnie the Pooh in 2017 after internet users compared the national leader to the lovable bear in online posts. Rabbit, Winnie The Pooh, Eeyore and Tigger pose for photos as Winnie The Pooh receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
It comes as China has been accused of overly-managing the leader’s image after the country apparently clamped down on critics and censored internet memes that mock President Xi’s looks.
Officials are said to have banned Winnie the Pooh in 2017 after internet users compared the national leader to the lovable bear in online posts.
Comments referencing ‘Little Bear Winnie’ – Pooh’s Chinese name – turned up error messages saying the user could not proceed because ‘this content is illegal.’
Comparisons between Xi and Pooh first emerged in 2013, after Chinese social media users began circulating a pair of pictures that placed an image of Pooh and his slender tiger friend ‘Tigger’ beside a photograph of Xi walking with then-US President Barack Obama.
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