'Due to relevant laws, regulations and policies": Keanu Reeves' support for Tibet results in film blackout

"Sorry, no results related to 'Keanu Reeves' were found," says a message from China's iQiyi platform, symbolizing the actor's sudden evaporation from major streaming sites across the country. What might be the cause of this cinematic blackout? Reeves’ public support for Tibet earlier this year, a move that provoked Chinese nationalists and led to a digital purge of the actor's filmography.

As per the Los Angeles Times, over 19 films starring the Matrix star were yanked off Tencent Video post his participation in the 35th annual Tibet House Benefit Concert in January, where he performed along notable artists like Laurie Anderson, Patti Smith, Cyndi Lauper, and Iggy Pop. Reeves' involvement in the Tibet benefit, a nation whose independence China firmly refutes, set off a chain of events that would tarnish the actor's reputation in the Asian powerhouse.

His support for the cause went public right as “The Matrix Resurrections” was opening in China. The action sequel was subsequently boycotted by nationalists and failed to impress at the box office.

China's top streamers, Youku and Migu Video, removed all of Reeves' films, barring his voice role in "Toy Story 3." Even on platforms like Bilibili and Xigua Video, Reeves' films vanished without a trace. Interestingly, "Toy Story 3" continues to stream but features only the local dubbing cast when mentioning voice talent, conveniently leaving Reeves uncredited.

The scrubbed films include the original “Matrix” trilogy, “Speed,” “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure,” “Something’s Gotta Give” and “The Lake House.” The reason behind the deletions remains shrouded in mystery. As reported by the Times, it’s unclear whether China’s regulatory agencies or the platforms themselves took the initiative to weed out "potentially troublesome content."

This isn't the first time an actor's pro-Tibetan stance has landed them in hot water with the Chinese authorities. Hollywood stars like Richard Gere, known for his close ties with the 14th Dalai Lama, and Selena Gomez, who snapped a picture with the spiritual leader, lost lucrative opportunities due to their affiliations. Now it seems Reeves' sympathies have added him to this controversial list.

The Reeves' representatives remained mum when Variety sought a comment, leaving the actor's fans and the Hollywood fraternity guessing about the potential implications of this digital blackout.

(Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.)