As concerns over the safety of Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai grow in the wake of her accusations of sexual assault by one of China's most powerful officials, a CNN segment discussing the story was censored by the communist nation -- censorship that was viewed in real time by CNN's viewers thanks to a box on the right side of the screen that showed the network's live feed in China.
During the segment, CNN correspondent Will Ripley told network anchor John Berman that the Women's Tennis Association cannot say in good confidence that Shuai is not being silenced. "None of the proof that has been provided by Chinese state media, John, gives them any comfort that she's actually in a position where her best interests are being represented," Ripley said, while reporting from Taipei.
When Ripley finished speaking, Berman pointed to the box on the right side of the TV screen "which is the actual live feed of this broadcast in China, but it's all color bars."
"And it went to color bars the minute you started talking," Berman said. "So what's going on here?"
"Chinese censors, John," Ripley replied.
Shuai went missing on Nov. 2 after she publicly accused a former Chinese government senior official, Zhang Gaoli, of forcing her to have sex despite her refusals. Chinese state media has recently released footage of her seemingly alive and well, but concerns about her safety still remain.
Watch the video below:
JUST NOW: Amazing...see China censor @CNN in real time as @willripleyCNN reports on tennis star Peng Shuai.pic.twitter.com/iUbr1EXhRt— John Berman (@John Berman) 1637583620
