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.
-
7 drinks for every winter need possibleThe Week Recommends Including a variety of base spirits and a range of temperatures
-
'We have made it a crime for most refugees to want the American dream'Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Was the Azerbaijan Airlines plane shot down?Today's Big Question Multiple sources claim Russian anti-aircraft missile damaged passenger jet, leading to Christmas Day crash that killed at least 38
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talksSpeed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tourSpeed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamationSpeed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box officeSpeed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appealSpeed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
-
One great cookbook: 'Every Grain of Rice' by Fuchsia DunlopThe Week Recommends The alchemy of Chinese home cooking made accessible
-
A popular new video game is at the center of China's censorship disputeIn the Spotlight 'Black Myth: Wukong' has more than a million players, but some are criticizing China's oversight of the game
