Keanu Reeves under fire from Chinese nationalists for Tibet benefit concert

The star of "The Matrix Resurrections" has experienced a backlash from Chinese fans since it was announced last week he would take part in an upcoming benefit concert for Tibet.

Keanu Reeves, was announced as one of the main performers by 35th annual Tibet House U.S. Benefit Concert on March to mark both the Tibetan New Year and the Monlam Prayer Festival. It will be livestreamed this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The event is also a fundraiser for Tibet House U.S., the American chapter of an international non-profit network founded at the request of the Dalai Lama to preserve Tibetan culture.

Chinese netizens have reportedly called for a boycott of Reeve’s movie in the country.

"I used to be a fan of Reeves not only because he’s a great actor, but also because he has Chinese heritage. But apparently we hold different views on Tibetan issues and it’s a no-brainer for me to stop liking him because of that,” said one user on Chinese microblogging site Weibo.

The current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, has been living in exile since 1959, following China’s annexation of Tibet in 1950.  He has accused the Communist Party-ruled government of trying to erase Tibet’s cultural heritage and alleges the Chinese occupation has resulted in the deaths of over a million Tibetans over the decades, including those who self-immolate in protest.

China has campaigned to have Tibet recognized as a province of China, which in recent years includes the censorship of Tibet or Tibetan people and culture in movies that show in the country.

Reeves is part Chinese from his father’s Pacific Islander heritage. His paternal grandmother was Chinese Hawaiian, which he credits for growing up around Asian culture.

“My grandmother is Chinese and Hawaiian, so I was around Chinese art, furniture and cuisine when I was growing up,” Reeves told Philippine news in 2020. “I remember that I really liked haikus. I also liked animé and kung fu movies—so, yeah, I was exposed to Asian culture since I was a kid.”

Reeves has not yet confirmed his participation.

"The Matrix Resurrections" performed underwhelmingly in China with a $7.5 million opening weekend.