Chinese Streaming Platforms Remove Keanu Reeves Films Over His Support For Tibet

Chinese streaming services have dumped Keanu Reeves' films after he showed support for Tibet earlier this year.

The actor is the latest victim of the country's censorship regime as films such as The Matrix trilogy, Speed, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Something's Gotta Give and The Lake House were reportedly removed from streaming services, including Tencent Video, Youku, iQiyi and Migu Video.

According to The Los Angeles Times, when typing the name 'Keanu Reeves' into iQiyi's search bar, it comes up with: "Sorry, no results related to 'Keanu Reeves' were found.

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"Due to relevant laws, regulations and policies, some results are not shown."

Two months ago, Chinese nationalists also threatened to boycott The Matrix Resurrections.

The backlash for the fourth Matrix instalment came from the Chinese patriot group named 'Little Pinks' who were left outraged after the 57-year-old actor attended the 35th Tibet Benefit Concert in January, Variety reported.

The actor also performed at the concert, alongside music legends Laurie Anderson, Patti Smith, Cyndi Lauper and Iggy Pop.

Reeves, who is of Chinese descent on his father's side, became extremely popular with the Chinese market in the mid-nineties early on in his career.

However, Chinese patriots feel he has turned his back on his heritage after attending the Tibet Benefit Concert earlier this year.

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Many users took to CHINAD8- a radical pro-China blog site to slam the actor.

One user wrote: "How can Keanu Reeves not understand this and take part in a pro-Tibet independence concert? Aren't these celebrities afraid of losing the China market?"

Another wrote. "Get out of the Chinese market, thank you,"

While another: "The film ('The Matrix: Resurrection') can be taken down now."

Shortly after The Matrix: Resurrection was released, users also took to the microblog Weibo to call out the John Wick star.

One user wrote: "These high school graduates in Hollywood can't even identify where Tibet is on the map, but they 'care' if people there are leading a good life."

And another wrote: "Tibet belongs to China."

Past actors who have also shown their support for Tibet include Richard Gere, Brad Pitt and Selena Gomez, whose Instagram post went viral after she took a photo with the Dalai Lama.

According to the website Shanghaiist.com, Gomez was subsequently forced to cancel her performances in Guangzhou and Shanghai as part of her Revival tour in 2016 after she was pictured with the Tibetan spiritual leader.

Topics: TV and Film, News, keanu reeves, China

Charisa Bossinakis