🇫🇷 France /Culture & Society

Chinese comedian Guo Degang investigated for altering patriotic song lyrics

From Libération · Aug 18, 2026 (Aug 18) French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Under investigation

Chinese comedian Guo Degang is under investigation for allegedly altering the lyrics of a patriotic song.
His upcoming performances have been canceled following the incident.
The comedian reportedly did not submit the modified lyrics to the local culture bureau for approval, a strict requirement under the Chinese regime.

Chinese comedian Guo Degang is facing an investigation for allegedly tampering with the lyrics of a patriotic song, leading to the cancellation of his upcoming performances. The incident has drawn scrutiny under China's strict regulations regarding patriotic content.

Guo Degang reportedly performed a version of a patriotic song with altered lyrics. According to reports, he failed to submit these modifications to the local Bureau of Culture and Tourism for approval before his performance. This process is a stringent requirement enforced by the Communist regime to control public expression, particularly concerning nationalistic themes.

The consequences have been swift, with all of the comedian's upcoming shows being canceled. The investigation signifies the authorities' commitment to upholding regulations on patriotic songs and ensuring adherence to the party's ideological guidelines.

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Originally published by Libération in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.