GOP Rep. SLAMS Disney For Bowing To China After Company Cancelled Meeting With Uyghur Muslim Advocates Speaking Out For Human Rights

On Thursday, Representative Jim Banks (R-IN) bashed the Walt Disney Company for pulling out of their plans to meet with a group of Uyghur advocates, the same group that was being held in internment camps where they filmed ‘Mulan.’

“Whatever the reason, Disney publicly praised Chinese Communist Party agencies committing genocide and then privately scorned their victims.” the Republican representative said, “It’s time for Disney to own up to its mistakes and make amends.”

The Uyghurs are a Muslim group that is native to China’s northwestern Xinjiang province, the same province where the live-action adaptation of Disney’s ‘Mulan’ was filmed. The film drew major criticism for the numerous choices made by Disney and the staff of the movie, per the Los Angeles Times.

Chinese American star Yifei Liu sided with the Hong Kong police during the violent protests taking place over their governance being revoked. 

That was a minor issue with the movie. The biggest issue with the film comes from the revelation that part of the movie was filmed in Xinjiang province, where at the time China was believed to have detained upwards of one million Muslims, especially the ethnic Uyghurs, within internment camps. 

It only looked worse for the media company as the end credits of the movie featured a special thank you for the government entities that helped allow them to film in the region, including the Publicity Department of CPC Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomy Region Committee.

Per Just The News, the canceled meeting had to do with this controversy, but it’s unknown the exact reason behind the meeting. "It couldn’t have been to protect Disney’s public image or bottom line, so maybe the executives were just worried about a good night’s sleep," Banks said on the topic. Banks had written to Disney CEO Bob Iger on Tuesday to inquire about the meeting, which is why he was aware of its cancellation. 

"We recently received reports that Disney has evaded meeting with victims of the Uyghur genocide," Banks wrote. "Shortly after Mulan’s premiere, a coalition of like-minded groups contacted Disney and asked to organize a sit-down between Disney executives, Uyghur victims’ families, and Uyghur advocates."

Disney has claimed to be unaware of the human rights violation during their time of filming, but many, including Banks, have doubted the claim. A major factor pushing them to know was their thanks to the very department responsible for the crime.

Banks are still urging Iger to reschedule the meeting with the group, but nothing as of yet has happened. The situation paints a very sad picture for the company, bowing to Communist China and failing to make even an attempt at amends with the groups they’ve affected.