Chinese Comedian Guo Degang Under Investigation Over Altered Revolutionary Song Lyric
Chinese comedian Guo Degang faces investigation after changing a lyric from a revolutionary song during a Wuhan performance, leading to show cancellations.
Guo Degang, one of China's most celebrated performers of traditional xiangsheng comedy, is under investigation by cultural authorities in Wuhan after he altered a lyric from a well-known revolutionary song during a live performance last month.
Local media reported that Guo changed the line "it is quiet along Weishan Lake" to "it is quiet in the Forbidden City" during his show in the central Chinese city. The original lyric comes from "Playing My Beloved Pipa," a song featured in the 1950s film Railway Guerrilla, which depicts Communist-led fighters battling Japanese forces during World War II.
The song holds significant cultural status in China. It was performed at the CCTV Spring Festival Gala in 1998 and was included in a 2019 list of 100 recommended songs marking the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, curated by the Communist Party's Publicity Department.
Following the incident, Guo's scheduled performance on Friday in Xi'an was canceled, with his promotion company citing "venue issues" on the ticketing platform Damai. Refunds were offered for tickets as well as travel and hotel expenses. The exhibition center hosting the event also cited "venue issues" and said the show was "postponed" without announcing a new date. Local media reported that several other August shows across various cities were also canceled.
The lyric change was reportedly not part of the performance script approved in advance by Wuhan authorities, potentially violating regulations governing commercial performances, according to Shanghai-based outlet The Paper.
Guo is widely credited with bringing xiangsheng, a traditional form of comedic dialogue, to younger audiences in China. The art form was historically more regional and appealed primarily to older generations.
This case highlights the strict controls and censorship governing China's entertainment industry, where performers must navigate unclear and shifting "red lines." It is not the first such incident. In 2023, comedian Li Haoshi, known by his stage name House, sparked controversy after using a military slogan in a joke about dogs chasing squirrels. His company, Xiaoguo Culture Media, was fined 14.7 million yuan (approximately $2.13 million), and Li has not appeared in public performances in mainland China since.
Neither Guo nor his promotion company responded to requests for comment on Saturday.