A spokesman for the group discusses a recent “hit piece” meant to spread hatred – though fans of the show can clearly see right through it.
Shen Yun is no stranger to facing backlash from jaded media outlets. The New York Times have gone after them on a number of occasions, based on accusations that have simply seen little to no merit. And now, a local Colorado outlet has gone all out with a full blown “hit piece” as the show visits the state.
In the article, writer Steve Rabey notes how Shen Yun is promoting the show in face of reported child labor violations. However, it’s how he notes it that displays the full hatred some of these writers have for Shen Yun.
That said, fans of the show – and dedicated readers of Colorado Times Recorder – were quick to respond. “I found the reporting in this story very bigoted and one-sided, and frankly very poor journalism,” one reply read. “The article was terribly biased against Falun Gong, as well as anything exceptional in the world and I found it biased against Christians as well. I happen to love the arts and anyone who brings light and love to the world.”
Another responder noted, “The Chinese Communist Party has recently begun a “Transnational Repression” effort which is using Western media and lawfare to persecute Falun Gong overseas. Some large and reputable media organizations have written hit pieces–please don’t join them. The truth is, Falun Gong practitioners are tortured and killed every day, and articles like the one you published helps the communists to do it.
“Please pull this article and do a more thorough fact check.” (As of this point, it remains up.)
A spokesman for the Shen Yun show joins us now to discuss the matter further.
Q&A:
- What is it about some media outlets that just like to spread the hatred against Shen Yun and Falun Gong?
- Would you say some of these outlets are easily influenced by the Chinese Communist Party? Or are they just looking to get “hate hits” from their articles?
- What about the fans that chose to respond to this hateful writer in regards to this “hit piece”? How does it feel to see people like this strongly support the show?
- How has Shen Yun been doing in 2025? Do you have any noteworthy tour stops coming up?
- Where can we learn more about the beautiful art of Shen Yun, and how it motivates others?
- The official website can be found here. Tickets to shows are also available there for purchase.
FROM SHEN YUN
ABOUT LEVI BROWDE…
Levi Browde serves as the Executive Director with the New York-based Falun Dafa Information Center – an organization dedicated to ending the human rights abuses against people who practice Falun Gong in China.
A career software entrepreneur, Levi’s life changed dramatically in 1999 when his best friend came to the office one morning and announced the Chinese Communist Party had taken away his mother in Beijing to be tortured and “brainwashed.” This marked the beginning of his volunteer work to defend human rights in China. Two years later, Levi himself was detained in a Chinese jail outside Beijing for secretly meeting with Western reporters and protesting on Tiananmen Square.
Over the past 20 years, Browde has been interviewed and quoted by the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune, CNN, the Associated Press, TIME Magazine, BBC, AFP, and other media outlets. He has spoken about Falun Gong and human rights in China at briefings on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, at the United Nations human rights sessions in Geneva, Switzerland.
Browde studied East Asian Studies at Wesleyan University and is an avid supporter of traditional Chinese culture. He founded several software start-ups, and lives in New York with his wife and two sons.
Samples of Levi on camera:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oS3RS4vJguI
https://tv.faluninfo.net/unmasking-chinas-gestapo-610-office/
https://tv.faluninfo.net/levi-browde-exposes-the-new-york-times-distorted-coverage-of-human-rights/
ABOUT LEESHAI LEMISH…
Leeshai Lemish was born in the United States. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Chinese history from Pomona College, California, and his master’s in international relations from the London School of Economics. He has spent extended periods studying, working, and conducting research throughout East Asia, and has authored articles on Chinese current affairs published in both English and Chinese. He joined Shen Yun Performing Arts when the company was founded in 2006 and has since emceed around 1,500 performances with the company, appearing with Shen Yun at prestigious theaters such as Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center in the U.S., the London Coliseum, Tokyo Opera City, and many other venues around the world.
ABOUT JARED MADSEN…
Jared was one of the first students from Iowa to study in China where he fell in love with Chinese culture. For the past 18 years, Jared has served as MC for Shen Yun Performing Arts.
Samples of Jared on camera:
https://www.shenyuncreations.com/video/_video_8c5f163284fe4e9281ac40a7c85f684c/An-Inside-Look-at-Shen-YunE28093And-How-ItE28099s-Defying-the-CCPE28099s-Global-Campaign-to-Cancel-It-?pid=p_DaJ4kSAASRyd&view=
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTRDEDglS24
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