Why China Hates Brad Pitt
Academy Award winner Brad Pitt is among the top big stars around the globe and yet is disliked in China. The Hollywood heartthrob is known for his films like Fight Club, Troy, Lost City, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and many others. Reportedly, the reason for hatred and people of China not liking the Hollywood star is the portrayal of China’s treatment of the Tibetan people in the Seven Years in Tibet movie.
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What made Brad Pitt banned in China?
Brad Pitt played the role of an Austrian climber Heinrich Harrer who breaks out of prison and travels to the holy city of Lhasa. He is later employed as an instructor to the 14th Dalai Lama and ends up befriending Dalai Lama during the period of China’s takeover of Tibet.
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Seven Years in Tibet and its political controversies
Directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, Seven Years in Tibet was a 1997 American biographical war drama film. The story was based on Heinrich Harrer’s experiences in Tibet between 1944 and 1951. The Chinese officials took offense because of the portrayal of the Chinese people and believed it showed 14th Dalai Lama in a negative light. The Chinese government went on to bar the main people involved in the Seven Years in Tibet movie from China.
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China’s culture of banning Hollywood films
As the film was released, China became significant for banning Hollywood movies. Recently, MCU’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was banned in China for unknown reasons. However, Doctor Strange 2 went on to prove that Disney doesn’t need China. China lifted the ban on Brad Pitt in 2016 with the release of the 2016 romantic war thriller film Allied. Reportedly, the reason for lifting the ban was that it was partially financed by the Chinese company Huahua Media.
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Brad Pitt’s performance in Seven Years in Tibet
With all the brawl and controversy, Seven Years in Tibet flopped at the box office and critics found the film underwhelming. Reportedly, the actor trained for the role in Italy and Austria, which involved climbing the Dolomites and wearing lederhosen. Brad Pitt also went to be nominated for the Stinkers Bad Movie Award for Most Annoying Fake Accent.
Brad Pitt’s Bullet Train movie is set to release on 5 August 2022
