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China blacklists Lady Gaga following Dalai Lama meeting

News Desk (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Wed, June 29, 2016

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China blacklists Lady Gaga following Dalai Lama meeting The Dalai Lama (left) greets Lady Gaga before a question and answer session at the US Conference of Mayors in Indianapolis, the US, on Sunday. (AP/Michael Conroy)

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fter a meeting with the Dalai Lama on Sunday, Lady Gaga has joined Maroon 5, Bjork and Oasis on the list of artists banned from entering China. 

Prior to a conference in Indianapolis, Lady Gaga met with the Tibetan spiritual leader to discuss issues on meditation, mental health and how to “detoxify humanity”. However, the meeting sparked an angry reaction from China.

According to Apple Daily, the Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party promptly issued instructions for a total ban of all Gaga-related creations — from online music to posters and CDs. The party has also urged news outlets to publicly criticize the American singer. Some Gaga fans have claimed that their Instagram posts featuring the star have been censored. 

(Read also: Lady Gaga's childhood piano doesn't sell at auction)

China has had sour relations with the Dalai Lama for decades, dating back to 1959. He is regularly vilified by the government because of his advocacy for separating the Himalayan region of Tibet from China, and his strong encouragement for greater autonomy for Tibet. China’s rulers consider him a separatist who they say is conspiring to separate the Himalayan region from China in order to establish a theocratic rule there.

According to the Associated Press, China’s foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said: “The purpose of his visits and activities in other countries is just to promote his proposal for Tibetan independence. We hope that people from the international community can be fully aware of his true colors and nature.”

Lady Gaga, whose career has survived previous bans in China from 2011 to 2014, has yet to respond to China’s reported ban on her work. (sab/kes)

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