It seems John Wick has enraged the dragon to the point of no return. He has incurred the wrath of Chinese Nationalists after it emerged earlier this week that he will be performing at an upcoming benefit concert for Tibet. According to a report, some Chinese social media users, known locally as “little pinks,” have gone so far as to suggest that Reeves’ recently released ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ should be boycotted in retaliation.
The latest ‘Matrix’ film had already flopped in China prior to revelations about Reeves’ involvement in the pro-Tibet event. The film opened to just USD 7.5 million and has earned USD 12.4 million to date, hence the sudden outrage is unlikely to make much difference to the Warner Bros. title’s bottom line.
The potentially more concerning factor for Reeves’ career is whether he becomes a de facto persona non grata in the Chinese entertainment landscape going forward. Several western celebrities have seen their personal brands iced out of China’s massive entertainment market after voicing support for Tibet in the past.
The nature of matter is so sensitive to the ruling communist regime that they would go as far as to ban any artist who challenges their narrative, and this indeed has caused Hollywood to lose a lot of money and even at times a permanent loss of a potential market. Brad Pitt also was banned for nearly two decades after starring in the film ‘Seven Years’ in Tibet in 1997. Lady Gaga effectively has been prohibited from performing in the country ever since she met with the Dalai Lama in 2016.
It was revealed this week that Reeves will be one of the headline performers for the 35th annual Tibet House US Benefit Concert on March 3, alongside artists including Patti Smith, Trey Anastasio, and Jason Isbell. Legendary composer Philip Glass is serving as the concert’s artistic director.
Founded in 1987, Tibet House is a New York-based educational nonprofit committed to the preservation of Tibetan culture. The group was established by supporters of the Dalai Lama and Beijing authorities have labeled it as a separatist organization advocating Tibetan independence. Reeves previously counted a sizable number of fans in China, thanks to both his Chinese ancestry and the fact that he filmed his directorial debut, ‘Man of Tai Chi’, in the country, with support from the state-backed China Film Group.