Disney’s latest live-action adaptation, Mulan, has already had to contend with a constantly shifting release schedule because of the global coronavirus pandemic. Now, the movie has to deal with a growing call from audiences to boycott it.

The Hollywood Reporter says that the #BoycottMulan movement has been gaining ground in a number of countries in Asia, namely Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Thailand. One prominent voice calling for action against the Disney movie is Joshua Wong, an activist leader in Hong Kong.

The outrage stems from previous comments made by the movie’s star Liu Yifei, who posted on the Chinese social media site Weibo in support of the Hong Kong police. Pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong have long accused the police force of brutality, torture, and unlawful arrests.

As The Verge points out, Liu’s initial show of support for the Hong Kong police already ignited outrage at the time. It prompted Liu to be more cautious about her statements about Hong Kong, saying instead in an interview earlier this year that the situation in Hong Kong was “complicated.”

Even Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn had to qualify the studio’s stance on Hong Kong, stating that they were apolitical and that it was up to Liu what she would say back in China. Horn says that the studio has no control over what the actress says.

The growing calls for a boycott may be a headache for Disney, as they are releasing the movie in a number of Asian markets such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. A boycott would cut into already limited earnings the movie could make because of the global coronavirus pandemic.

Mulan’s prospects in Asia are further complicated by the still ongoing global coronavirus pandemic. Not only does Disney have to contend with a call for boycotts, it also has to consider that Mulan may not expand to other Asian markets since the coronavirus is still very much an issue in the region.

According to the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 dashboard for Sept. 7, South East Asia has the second most number of confirmed COVID-19 cases at 4,787,009 people. That number is just a part of the global total of confirmed COVID-19 cases, which is at 27,032,617 people as of Sept. 7.

The boycott may have less of an effect in the United States, as Disney has already decided to premiere the movie on their streaming service Disney+ for an additional $29.99 early-access fee. 

Those who do not wish to pay the early-access fee can even choose not to do so, since Disney+ will be offering the movie at no extra cost to its subscribers starting December.