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Lady Gaga ‘banned from China’ over unwritten rule

The leader with his loyal supporter Richard Gere in 2013. Photo: Getty

The leader with his loyal supporter Richard Gere in 2013. Photo: Getty

Lady Gaga has reportedly been banned from China for meeting with the Dalai Lama.

The singer is one of the most popular international entertainers in mainland China, but reports have questioned whether she’ll be allowed back to perform.

During their meeting in the US city of Indianapolis, Indiana, Gaga and His Holiness touched on mental health, yoga, self esteem and how to make the world a more compassionate place.

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The singer – known for boundary-pushing outfits such as the infamous raw meat dress – wore a conservative pair of white pants and a pink turtleneck sweater.

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Gaga and His Holiness embrace after their talk. Photo: Getty

China’s propaganda arm announced a ban of Gaga’s musical repertoire after news of the meeting, Hong Kong news site Apple Daily reported.

The Gaga backlash

Chinese news site China Daily quoted Party Chief in Tibet Zhang Qingli as calling the Dalai Lama a “wolf in monk’s clothing”.

He said the Dalai Lama was a “secessionist chief who fools simple believers under the guise of religion” and blamed him for riots in 2014 that killed 18 people and left hundreds wounded.

The site referenced a number of livid Chinese and Taiwanese social media users, one of whom apparently described the singer as “tantamount to ISIS”.

Other accounts that appeared to be Chinese questioned why the singer would want to meet the Dalai Lama.

“If you need Chinese fans, please leave it,” wrote one user on social media.

“You just see what he wants you to see. Don’t buy it! Don’t fall into it!”

However, most of the comments accompanying the image of Gaga with the Tibetan Buddhist leader were positive and thanked the singer for addressing the “important topics”.

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The leader with his loyal supporter Richard Gere in 2013. Photo: Getty

The Dalai Lama and China

The Dalai Lama, who has embraced social media for spreading his message of happiness and harmony, was in the US for the Conference of Mayors.

Since 1959, the 14th Dalai Lama has led an exiled Tibetan government, not officially recognised by the United Nations.

Relations between the Chinese and Tibetan governments disintegrated in the 1940s, culminating in the leader fleeing in 1959.

Since then, he has claimed his title as the ‘Spiritual leader of the Tibetan people’ while touring the world.

Celebrities such as actors Richard Gere and Stephen Seagal have been very vocal in their support of the leader’s quest for formal independence from China.

As a result, Richard Gere has previously admitted that he is “not welcomed” by the Chinese government.

According to the reports, Gere and Gaga may now have that in common.

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His Holiness the Dalai Lama wearing a cycling helmet presented by Mayor of Boulder, Colorado. Photo: Dalai Lama website

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