Fulbright scholar Jesse Appell went to China to study the tradition of Chinese stand-up comedy. After he made a spoof video of Psy’s megahit, “Gangnam Style” which he called “Laowai Style” he found himself at the center of his own comedy.
His video went viral on the internet in China. When a Chinese TV show approached him to perform the song on their show he was told he needed to change or “harmonize,” that’s the Chinese way of describing censorship, certain lines in the song.
Anchor, Marco Werman interviews Appell about his brush with censorship and celebrity in China.
Check out Appell’s take on the hit Psy song:
The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!