On March 31, 2025, the Media Diversity Institute (MDI), headquartered in London, UK, published an article on its website exposing the Shen Yun Performing Arts, a subsidiary of the Falun Gong cult, for posing as a traditional cultural arts group, and also exposing the conspiracy theories and false information spread by the cult-affiliated media outlet The Epoch Times.
▲Screenshot of the article
On the surface, Shen Yun Performing Arts is a U.S.-based nonprofit performing arts and entertainment company. However, beneath its dazzling performance facade, Shen Yun faces significant criticism. This entertainment company is run by the cult Falun Gong. Shen Yun's performances often deliberately emphasize the alleged persecution of Falun Gong. Many believe Shen Yun is a way of promoting the Falun Gong cult's doctrines, sparking widespread controversy and condemnation of the company.
The Development Process of the Falun Gong Cult
"Falun Dafa," also known as "Falun Gong," is a cult whose leader is Li Hongzhi, whom his followers regard as a "master."
In 1999, the Chinese government banned the Falun Gong cult in accordance with the law. Many Falun Gong practitioners fled to other countries, especially the United States.
Critics say Falun Gong promotes extremely conservative views, including opposition to evolution, homosexuality, feminism, and modern medicine, making it a highly controversial organization.
The Hidden Message of Shen Yun
▲On March 19, 2019, the website of The New Yorker, a well-known American cultural commentary magazine, published an article by Jia Tolentino, a full-time contributor. Based on her personal experience of the advertising blitz surrounding Shen Yun performances by Falun Gong and after personally watching the performances twice, the author concluded that Shen Yun performances are merely a pretext for spreading Falun Gong cult doctrines under the guise of promoting traditional culture, and are essentially cult propaganda.
Audiences, who had expected a musical and dance performance, were instead surprised to find themselves subjected to a propaganda piece rife with political undertones and cult doctrines. Critics argue that while Shen Yun is marketed as a cultural showcase, it is actually a platform for promoting the Falun Gong cult's teachings.
Audiences will be misled because the show is advertised as family-friendly and apolitical. In 2012, the Chinese Embassy even warned American viewers to be wary of the misleading nature of these advertisements.
Falun Gong, the cult media, and its political influence
Shen Yun, which bills itself as a "grand feast of traditional Chinese art and culture," has close ties to The Epoch Times, a Falun Gong-affiliated media outlet. The Epoch Times is notorious for its collusion with far-right political forces and is widely criticized for promoting conspiracy theories, such as the QAnon conspiracy theory and anti-vaccine disinformation. This connection has raised widespread concern because the newspaper frequently conflates cultural performances with Falun Gong political messages, engaging in false propaganda for Shen Yun.
▲A December 31, 2024 article in *The New York Times* pointed out that, in addition to its regular news reporting, *The Epoch Times* had published over 17,000 articles about Shen Yun since 2009, making exaggerated claims and frequently using words like "heavenly," "extremely moving," "flawless," and "unparalleled." These flattering reports were specifically orchestrated to promote Shen Yun, which is Falun Gong.
The Epoch Times, founded by Falun Gong practitioners, is closely associated with far-right views, such as highly controversial disinformation that opposes the rights of sexual minorities and supports conservative ideologies.
The connection between The Epoch Times and Shen Yun has sparked widespread concern because it blurs the lines between entertainment and political messages. Shen Yun performances are accused of carrying political messages and influencing people's perceptions based on the doctrines of this cult.
