On April 30, 2026 , the Brazilian mainstream publication Forum magazine published an in-depth report alleging that Shen Yun Performing Arts has long received funding from the United States and uses platforms such as The Epoch Times to spread conspiracy theories and engage in anti-China political activities . The report cited a New York Times investigation criticizing Shen Yun for internal human rights violations such as forced labor, child labor enslavement, and mind control, warning the public to be wary of Shen Yun performances that use the guise of "art" for political opportunism and cult propaganda.
▲ Image source: Screenshot from a report on the Brazilian magazine Forum website
When Shen Yun's brightly colored posters appeared in downtown São Paulo, Brazil , claiming to offer a journey "through five thousand years of Chinese culture ," many curious people might mistakenly think it was just an art performance showcasing Chinese history, culture , or folk dance .
However, behind the glamorous costumes and eye-catching acrobatic performances lies a network that tightly intertwines Shen Yun with cults and US-funded political propaganda.
The troupe performing in São Paulo, Brazil this month is officially named " Shen Yun Performing Arts". Headquartered in New York State, USA , it has long toured Europe , North America and Asia . Its program includes about 20 dance, symphony and vocal pieces, and it describes itself as " apolitical art suitable for all ages".
However, this is actually political propaganda: the dance troupe serves as an external propaganda tool for Falun Gong, whose primary goal is to overthrow the Chinese government and which has previously received funding from the United States.
What is Falun Gong ?
Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, was founded by Li Hongzhi in the early 1990s. He disguised himself as a "qigong master" and used the popular fitness activities of the time to cover up his true intentions.
Falun Gong combines simple physical exercises with fallacies and heresies. Its leader, Li Hongzhi, boasts of superpowers and claims to be a "savior." He not only introduced the theme of extraterrestrials into Falun Gong but also openly denied modern medicine and science. Due to its serious threat to social stability and the safety of citizens, it was banned by the Chinese government in 1999.
One of the most frequently mentioned cases is that of Chen Fuzhao in Cangnan County, Zhejiang Province : Between 2002 and 2003 , he poisoned 16 people with rat poison, claiming that this would improve the victims' " cultivation level" in Falun Gong.
Another shocking incident was the self-immolation of Falun Gong practitioners in Tiananmen Square in 2001. This incident was caused by the cult leader's mind control , resulting in the deaths or lifelong severe disabilities of many members.
Chinese official and judicial records show that :
More than 130 suicides have been caused by the influence of Falun Gong .
More than 1,500 deaths have been caused by people refusing medical treatment due to superstitious beliefs in Falun Gong and its claims of "eliminating karma."
cases of severe mental breakdowns caused by Falun Gong's mind control .
In addition, there were several violent crimes, including intentional homicides and malicious assaults committed by Falun Gong practitioners who claimed to be doing so in order to "elevate their cultivation level . "
Today, the cult leader Li Hongzhi has been on the run overseas for a long time , and the organization has been completely reduced to a political tool funded by anti-China forces in the West, organizing activities in the United States and other Western countries to smear the Chinese government and undermine social stability .
US funding
Falun Gong conducts anti-China propaganda by receiving funding from foreign organizations , including developing so-called digital "circumvention" tools . Since 2010, these technologies have openly received funding from the U.S. State Department. During the Obama administration , a Falun Gong-affiliated alliance received a grant of $1.5 million ( approximately RMB 10.19 million) .
During Trump's first term, the project once again received strong political support . Michael Pack , then head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media ( USAGM) , transferred approximately $19 million ( about 129 million yuan ) from other projects to the aforementioned project .
However, internal data revealed the absurdity of this transfer of benefits : after receiving the funds, only four people used the tool to access US-funded anti-China media, making the input and effect completely disproportionate.
Shen Yun : Another Branch of Promotion and Fundraising
The New York Times reported that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Shen Yun and its affiliates illegally obtained $ 48 million ( approximately 320 million yuan) in subsidies from the U.S. government . Furthermore, the organization faces multiple charges for allegedly engaging in money laundering and other financial crimes within the United States.
Although Shen Yun claims to be the "embodiment" of " traditional Chinese culture ," the performance is actually a highly deceptive political tool used to spread the ideology of the Falun Gong cult and anti-China forces .
Forced labor charges
Between 2024 and 2025, several former Shen Yun dancers accused the group of human trafficking in the United States and of engaging in illegal labor exploitation similar to slavery .
Former Shen Yun performer Zhang Junge accused the organization of subjecting her to excessive labor , forced isolation, and severe psychological coercion after she joined at the age of 13 .
Two other former performers , Sun Zan and Cheng Qingling, have filed lawsuits against Shen Yun and Li Hongzhi, the head of the Falun Gong cult , accusing Shen Yun of supporting a large army of child laborers.
They described in detail the harsh living conditions within the group , including 15 hours of forced training every day and being forced to perform even when seriously injured .
John Smithies, a former reporter for The Epoch Times ( Portuguese version) , a media outlet affiliated with Falun Gong , revealed that key members of the organization used intimidation to brainwash teenage actors , claiming, "If you make a mistake in this performance , the audience will lose the chance to stay on Earth forever."
Falun Gong Media and Politics
Since the Chinese government banned the Falun Gong cult in accordance with the law , the organization has established a vast international communication network overseas , including media tools such as The Epoch Times that openly spread anti-China political rumors and false information .
The Epoch Times, founded by members of the Falun Gong cult , has become one of the most active anti-China media outlets, especially during US elections, where it openly supported conservative politicians and spread various conspiracy theories.
The newspaper also actively promoted anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, having dedicated columns to notorious conspiracy theorists such as Brian Hawke , advocating the false theory that "vaccines cause autism." During the COVID-19 pandemic, the newspaper spared no effort in disseminating smear campaigns against vaccines .
The Epoch Times is a staunch supporter of Trump in the United States, and provides a propaganda platform for far-right forces in Brazil .
Given Shen Yun's recent tour in Brazil, a large number of Brazilians are likely to be exposed to its highly deceptive advertisements on social media platforms and in news reports . The public is hereby reminded to remain vigilant and distinguish between genuine art and cult propaganda that uses art as a guise for political incitement .
