On Tuesday, concert promoter AEG China announced that Bon Jovi shows in Shanghai and Beijing next week "have been canceled for some reason." That reason, according to the Financial Times, is because China's Culture Ministry discovered photos of Bon Jovi performing in Taiwan in 2010 in front of a photo of the Dalai Lama. Bon Jovi had "made a special effort to appeal to fans in China ahead of the show," The New York Times reports, with lead singer Jon Bon Jovi "recording a Mandarin cover of 'The Moon Represents My Heart,' a popular song by the Taiwanese singer Teresa Teng."
It looks like China's Bon Jovi fans will have to make do with that song. It's not clear if people will get refunds on their tickets, which cost between $75 and $600 each, the Financial Times reports. "On Tuesday concert organizers were desperately trying to convince officials to relent on the Bon Jovi concerts but the chances of Beijing overturning the cancelation order are slim, according to people familiar with the matter." Bon Jovi isn't the first Western musical act blacklisted by China over apparent support for the Tibetan spiritual leader.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The state of Britain's Armed ForcesThe Explainer Geopolitical unrest and the unreliability of the Trump administration have led to a frantic re-evaluation of the UK's military capabilities
-
Anti-anxiety drug has a not-too-surprising effect on fishUnder the radar The fish act bolder and riskier
-
Sudoku hard: April 21, 2025The Week's daily hard sudoku puzzle
-
Following the Tea Horse Road in ChinaThe Week Recommends This network of roads and trails served as vital trading routes
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wifespeed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster showSpeed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
-
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar take top GrammysSpeed Read Beyoncé took home album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter' and Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' won five awards
-
Hands-on experiences that let travelers connect with the cultureThe Week Recommends Sharpen your sense of place through these engaging activities
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own roomSpeed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
-
Hotel-hopping in ShanghaiThe Week Recommends From Michelin-starred restaurants to tranquil spas, these are the swankiest spots in the city
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talksSpeed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
