Chinese Professor Loses 3 Jobs After Criticizing Mao Zedong in Blog Post

Deng Xiaochao criticized Mao Zedong over Weibo on December 26, the late ruler’s 123rd birthday. According to Reuters, the art professor suggested that Mao was responsible for the famine that took the lives of three million people and the Cultural Revolution that killed two million more.

Deng deleted the post but netizens were quick to share its message. Shortly, Mao’s supporters rallied on the streets in protest of the professor’s comments.

Now, the 62-year-old educator can no longer teach at central China’s Shandong Jianzhu University. According to state-run Global Times, academic authorities decided to make Deng “retire” for “misbehavior over false speech” and posting “wrong” comments on his microblog. His action was allegedly a “severe problem and led to bad public effect.”

In addition, Deng was fired from his position as member of the Standing Committee of the Shandong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

Deng also lost his post as counselor to Shandong’s provincial government out of unspecified “relevant regulations.”