Sounds Like A Cult The Cult of Shen Yun
Feb 11, 2025
Liz, co-host of the TrueAnon podcast and a Shen Yun attendee, dives deep into the mysterious dance group's cult-like features. They discuss the troubling connections to the Falun Gong movement and allegations of exploitation and emotional abuse of performers. Liz critiques the marketing tactics that mask controversial beliefs under the guise of cultural revival. With a humorous lens, the conversation navigates the bizarre intersection of performance art and extremist politics while offering unexpected insights into the audience experience.
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First Encounter
- Liz first encountered Falun Gong protests as a child, seeing signs about organ harvesting.
- Years later, she connected those protests to Shen Yun billboards and attended a show.
Shen Yun's True Mission
- Shen Yun's performances spread Falun Gong's message and Li Hongzhi's teachings.
- Li uses Shen Yun to portray himself as divine, contrasting with an evil Chinese Communist Party.
Attending Shen Yun
- Liz and Brace attended Shen Yun at Lincoln Center, witnessing floating performers.
- They found Li Hongzhi's beliefs confusing, including his views on race mixing and heaven.
