Also, I don't think most people cared about their political beliefs. And that's why it blew up, in both cases. They cared because they were customers, who were paying for entertainment, but receiving a lecture/statement on politics.
When you're an entertainer, you risk your livelihood by upsetting your fans. That's not government censorship; it's a bad business decision.
Does the punishment need to meet a certain severity level to be "bad"? The parent comment I replied to made it sound like criticizing the government is free from any consequences in the West, which is patently false.
When you're an entertainer, you risk your livelihood by upsetting your fans. That's not government censorship; it's a bad business decision.