Following a controversial interview, professional wrestler and actor John Cena issued an apology to China, expressing his affection for the country. The apology comes after Cena referred to Taiwan as a “country” during the interview, sparking criticism from fans in China, which is a crucial international market for Hollywood.
The controversy arose when Cena, who portrays the brother of Vin Diesel’s character in the ninth installment of the popular “Fast & Furious” franchise, spoke to Taiwanese broadcaster TVBS to promote the film.
In the interview, Cena said in Mandarin, “Taiwan is the first country that can watch F9.”
Despite being a self-governed democratic island, China asserts its sovereignty over Taiwan, a claim that Taiwan contests, as the two have been ruled separately since a civil war over 70 years ago.
China is vehemently opposed to any insinuation of Taiwan’s independence and wields its substantial economic influence to regulate discussions on the topic across the globe.
In 2018, the Chinese government insisted that American Airlines (AAL), Delta (DAL) and United (UAL) alter their references to Taiwan or face potential repercussions in China, which is a major market for air travel.
Amid the backlash in China following the interview, Cena took to Weibo, a popular social media platform in China, on Tuesday, May 25, to offer an apology. Speaking once again in Mandarin, Cena did not explicitly mention Taiwan but admitted to making a mistake during his interviews.
“I’m sorry for my mistake,” Cena expressed. “I must say now, [it’s] very, very, very, very important [that] I love, and respect even more, China and the Chinese people.”
China, as the world’s second largest economy and the leading box office market globally, holds significant sway in the entertainment industry.
The “Fast & Furious” franchise has achieved notable success in China, with the latest installment, F9, raking in nearly $136 million in the country last weekend, marking the highest opening for a Hollywood film during the pandemic.
Cena also boasts a substantial fan base in China, amassing over 600,000 followers on Weibo, and has devoted years to learning Chinese.
