Photo of Three-Body Problem by Aimee Dars Ellis
U.S. senators are questioning Netflix’s planned adaptation of Liu Cixin’s The Three-Body Problem, a popular Chinese sci-fi trilogy, reports The Hollywood Reporter.
The project was initially picked up by Game of Thrones co-creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss in early September and was highly anticipated by fans of the novels, according to Deadline.
However, in a letter addressed to Netflix co-CEO and chief content officer Ted Sarandos, senators raised concerns about Liu’s stance on the internment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, China. The letter was signed by Republican senators Marsha Blackburn, Rick Scott, Marsha McSally, Kevin Kramer, and Thom Tillis.
They refer to an interview in which they claim Liu “parroted CCP talking points accusing all Uyghurs of being terrorists.” They also quote Liu’s response to a question about the internment camps, in which he stated, “Would you rather that they be hacking away at bodies at train stations and schools in terrorist attacks? If anything, the government is helping their economy and trying to lift them out of poverty.”
The senators write that by working with the author of Three-Body Problem, Netflix may be contributing to a “normalization” of the CCP’s actions in Xinjiang.
“While Congress seriously considers the systemic crimes carried out against the Uyghurs, we have significant concerns with Netflix’s decision to do business with an individual who is parroting dangerous CCP propaganda,” the letter reads. “In the face of such atrocities in XUAR [Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region], there no longer exist corporate decisions of complacency, only complicity.”
Netflix has yet to respond to the letter.
Earlier this month, Disney faced similar backlash after viewers noticed Mulan‘s end credits expressed thanks to government entities in Xinjiang, reported AsAmNews.
AsAmNews has Asian America in its heart. We’re an all-volunteer effort of dedicated staff and interns. Check out our new Instagram account. Go to our Twitter feed and Facebook page for more content. Please consider interning, joining our staff, or submitting a story.
