Killer Chic: Hollywood's Sick Love Affair with Che Guevara (Chinese translation)

Note: On December 11, Reason.tv released "Killer Chic: Hollywood's Sick Love Affair with Che Guevara," which featured a discussion of former Chinese basketball player Kai Chen's experience under Mao Zedong's murderous regime. We're happy to release this version of Killer Chic with Chinese subtitles.

Gisele Bundchen wears him on the runway, Johnny Depp wears him around his neck, and Benicio Del Toro becomes him in the new, highly acclaimed, two-part epic film from Steven Soderbergh, Che. Ernesto "Che" Guevara, the revolutionary who helped found communist Cuba, is the celebrity that celebrities adore. And be it Madonna, Rage Against the Machine, or Jay-Z, musicians really dig Che.

Its something that baffles Cuban jazz legend Paquito DRivera. Che hated artists, so how is it possible that artists still today support the image of Che Guevara? Turns out the rebellious icon that emblazons countless T-shirts actually enforced aesthetic and political conformity. DRivera explains that Che and other Cuban authorities sought to ban rock and roll and jazz.

Che was an inspiration for me, DRivera tells reason.tv. I thought I have to get out of this island as soon as I can, because I am in the wrong place at the wrong time! DRivera did escape Cuba, and so far hes won nine Grammy awards playing the kind of music Che tried to silence. But DRivera says Ches crimes didnt end with censorship. He ordered the execution of many people with no trial. Che served as Castros chief executioner, presiding over the infamous La Cabana prison. DRivera says Ches policy of killing innocents earned him the nickname—the Butcher of La Cabana.

Were rightly horrified by fascist murderers like Adolph Hitler, says reason.tvs Nick Gillespie. Why arent we also horrified by communist killers? Certainly, Ches body count isnt anywhere near Hitlers. But what about someone Che idolized, someone whom he might have liked to wear on his chest?

Che, Castro, all the communist regimes idolized only one thing that Mao personifies—violence. Kai Chen grew up in China under the reign of Mao Zedong. Although he won gold medals for Chinas national basketball team, Chens was far from the celebrity life of an NBA star. Says Chen, You have no right to talk, and you have no right to think.

The punishment for questioning Maos authority was often death. The Black Book of Communism estimates that Mao is responsible for the deaths of 65 million people—a figure that dwarfs even Hitlers body count. Mao is a murderer, says Chen. The biggest mass murderer in human history.

And yet, like Che, Maos image is becoming an increasingly popular way to move merchandise. You can buy Mao t-shirts, mugs, caps—you name it. Near Chens Los Angeles home theres even a restaurant called Maos Kitchen. Can you imagine a restaurant called Hitlers Kitchen? asks Gillespie.

Neither DRivera nor Chen understands why communist killers are considered Chic, but each finds his own way to have the last laugh on these anti-capitalist icons.

"Killer Chic" is written and produced by Ted Balaker. Director of Photography is Alex Manning.