China's censors are at it again, that is prevent the showing of the sexual bondage movie "50 Shades of Grey" via streaming.

The Wall Street Journal reports that three streaming sites - LeTV.com, iQiyi.com and v.qq.com - offered an uncut version of the film to Chinese viewers through social media sites via streaming of the movie which is an adaptation of the best-selling novel of E.L. James.

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Besides the offer of uncut scenes, LeTV also promised a free one-month membership to subscribers who sign up to watch "Fifty Shades of Grey" with Chinese subtitles.

The movie plot revolves around a female college student and her sadomasochistic relationship with a billionaire. If it were shown on local movie theaters, the steamy scenes would surely be cut by the censors. But in the past, online content had looser censorship restrictions, although the regulator started to tighten recently its control even for foreign content.

The three sites apologized on Friday on Weibo to their subscribers. The only reason the companies offered is that the hot film, which is a hit in the U.S. and other countries, could not be streamed "for special reasons."

LeTV added in its notice, "We pray that everyone won't have to watch a 'big-head' version when it becomes available." The comment was in reference to the recent censoring by the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of the TV series "The Investiture of the Gods."

The censors removed the body shots of heroine Li Yixiao and only showed her head to avoid shots of her cleavage.

Weibo users did not hide their disappointment with the cancellation of the uncut showing of the controversial movie. One user wrote, "I took the risk of running late for work and being scolded and sleepy tomorrow to wait for the film on these video sites at midnight. And then I spent 50 minutes searching and found nothing but trailers."

Since its showing in February, "Fifty Shades of Grey" had earned for its producers more than $415 million, said Box Office Mojo.

 

TagsFifty Shades of Grey, China video streaming, censorship