Tens of thousands of individuals have signed a petition to remove Donnie Yen as an Oscars presenter due to his support of the Chinese government.
The internet petition was initiated by “a group of Hong Kong residents.”
It states that his most recent comments regarding protests in Hong Kong in 2019 “violate the spirit of free speech.”
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, whose members decide Oscar winners, has not commented on the petition as of yet.
Yen is a globally renowned action hero who recently sparked controversy by referring to the protesters as a “riot” in an interview.
The 59-year-old is most known for the Ip Man films, a Hong Kong series about a martial arts expert that has grossed more than $400 million (£338 million) globally. Next, he will co-star with Keanu Reeves in the Hollywood blockbuster John Wick 4.
The petition, which was created by renowned Hong Kong activist Tong Wai-hung, asserts that the Academy’s invitation to Yen demonstrates “disrespect for the people of Hong Kong” and that his participation will “harm the image and repute of the film industry.” It contains over 84,000 signatures.
On Thursday, Yen was announced as a presenter for the 95th Academy Awards, which will be held in Los Angeles this Sunday.
Unknown is the category in which Yen is supposed to present. The BBC has requested a response from the Academy.
Yen was born in Guangzhou, China, and migrated to the United States when she was 11 years old. He was granted American citizenship but relinquished it afterward.
The father of three expressed his opposition to the 2019 pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong in a recent interview with GQ Hype. Plans to extradite criminal suspects to mainland China first ignited the protests, which then grew into a broader anti-government campaign.
“It was a riot, not a demonstration. I will not be here to discuss how to alter how people feel about it “Yen remarked.
“But, I was there, and I have several friends who were also there. I do not wish to engage in politics. Many individuals may disagree with what I say, but I am speaking from personal experience.”
Furthermore, Yen said that Western media channels like the BBC and CNN only cover “bad stories” about China.
As a Hong Kong delegate, he attended the Two Sessions in Beijing, the annual gatherings of China’s legislature and highest political advisory body, earlier this month. There are thousands of representatives from across the nation in attendance.
Yen is a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which has no real legislative authority and is comprised of members from diverse social sectors.
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