Provincial officials in eastern China have warned comedians against stirring up gender discord, following a viral performance by a woman comedian who joked about her abusive marriage. The warning, issued by Zhejiang province's publicity department on WeChat, urged comedians to criticise constructively rather than 'for the sake of being funny'.
The department's article, published on Sunday, chastised some comedy shows for becoming a 'battlefield' and simplifying gender issues into 'opposition between men and women'. It suggested that instead of mocking 'blindly confident men', comedians should explore the social causes, and instead of ridiculing 'materialistic women', they should reflect on how consumerism shapes gender roles.
The warning did not name a specific comedian but referenced iQiyi's show The King of Stand-up Comedy and a newcomer dubbed an 'industry gem'. Earlier this month, the show aired a set by Fan Chunli, known as Fangzhuren, who detailed her allegedly abusive marriage. Audience members were moved to tears, and clips of her performance spread widely online.
The warning sparked criticism on social media. One top-liked Weibo comment asked: 'Just saying the facts of what happened is provoking opposition between men and women?' Another wrote: 'Once something is discussed from a female perspective it is labelled gender opposition, isn't that too sensitive?'
Women comedians have faced backlash before. In 2024, JD.com dropped sponsorship of comedian Yang Li after she asked why men 'look so mediocre yet still have so much self-confidence'. However, Fangzhuren received applause for her story, posting on Weibo: 'The environment changes people, and will prompt women's awakening.'
