There is an entire universe of difference between the government telling you you can't say something and arresting and/or disappearing you if you ignore them, and privately owned museums, exhibit halls, or online platforms refusing to do business with you if you say something stupid in public that harms people's perceptions of you. You're absolutely free to spout every hot take and conspiracy theory you want (there's certainly no shortage of people who do), but nobody is obligated to respect you or do business with you if you do. What's not going to happen is an FBI agent or cop coming around to "have a chat" and if you refuse to publicly retract your statements then quietly sending you off to some gulag without telling anyone where you'll be worked to death and then your organs harvested and sold. That's the difference between "the West" and China.
While a bit over the top, I respect his opinion. Watch any of the documentaries made about him or attend any of his exhibitions and you'll see this guy is the real deal. He's been through shit with the CCP and has always been pushing boundaries with his criticism on repressive politics, policies and social issues for as long and he's been alive.
Political censorship in the West today is "exactly the same" as it was in China under its ruthless communist leader Mao Zedong, exiled artist Ai Weiwei has told Sky News.
The 66-year-old dissident told Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips that "society becomes so timid, to really avoid any kind of questioning or argument".
He was responding to a question about the cancellation of his exhibition by the Lisson Gallery in London in November following comments on social media referencing the Israel-Hamas conflict.
He also argued the Jewish community had a significant influence in the media, finance and culture in the US, and that America's $3bn (£2.45bn) annual military aid to Israel meant the two countries had a "shared destiny".
Criticising the suspension of two New York University professors for comments related to Gaza, Ai said: "This is really like a cultural revolution, which is really trying to destroy anybody who have different attitudes, not even a clear opinion.
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