The Chinese Communist Party banned “girlie” men from appearing on television and instructed broadcasters on Thursday to encourage support of “revolutionary culture” in an effort to expand control over business and society, in addition to enforcing official morality.
According to The Associated Press, Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping called for a “national rejuvenation” seeking increased party control over business, education, culture and religion. The effort is placing increasing pressure on all aspects of Chinese society to follow the Communist party’s vision of a more powerful China.
The National Radio and TV Administration said broadcasters must “resolutely put an end to sissy men and other abnormal esthetics.” The message included an insulting colloquial term for feminine men: “niang pao” meaning “girlie guns.”
The push for more masculine men stems from the Chinese government’s concern that the nation’s pop stars are being influenced by the look of some chic South Korean and Japanese singers and actors, which are subsequently influencing China’s young men to be more effeminate.
Broadcasters were told to avoid featuring “vulgar internet celebrities” and should instead “vigorously promote excellent Chinese traditional culture, revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture.”
Performers who “violate public order” or have “lost morality” should also be restricted from appearing on television and programs featuring celebrities’ children are banned.
As part of this effort, thousands of fan clubs and entertainment news accounts were suspended from the blog platform Weibo Corp. over the weekend.
The Chinese Communist Party has also limited children’s ability to access online gaming and is increasing control over internet industries. New rules implemented this week limit people under 18 to just 3 hours of online gaming per week and bans play on school days.
Before a game can be released, developers are now additionally required to submit new titles with nationalistic themes to the government for approval.
Under Xi’s leadership, the party launched anti-monopoly, data security and other enforcement measures against companies deemed too big and independent, including social media provider Tencent Holding and the e-commerce business Alibaba Group.
The crackdown on celebrities has already impacted multiple popular actresses, including Zhao Wei, who disappeared from streaming platforms for unknown reasons. Additionally, the actress’s name was removed from movie and television credits.
Last week, Actress Zheng Shuang was also fined 299 million yuan ($46 million) for tax evasion – a warning from the Chinese Communist Party to pressure other celebrities to be positive role models according to party standards.
