DISNEY'S Winnie the Pooh film has been banned in China after the nation's leader was compared to the dopey bear.

Attempts to search for the much loved character on Weibo, generates the message, "content is illegal".

4 Xi Jinping has been likened to Winnie the Pooh since 2012 in a number of controversial jokes Credit: Reuters

Xi Jinping has been likened to the much loved character since 2013 when he was pictured with Barack Obama.

The former US President walking next to Mr Xi was edited next to a photo of Tigger and his rounder friend Winnie.

Chinese social messaging app WeChat removed animated gifs of the bear over the weekend.

Sina Weibo, the nation's platform which has been likened to Twitter, also censored any results which returned from Winnie the Pooh's name.

4 Winnie the Pooh is now classed as too sensitive to be mentioned Credit: Walt Disney

Chinese authorities are said to deem the comparisons as a bid to undermine Xi Jinping's leadership.

Global Risk Insights told the BBC the censorship may have been launched by the President himself because it appears to "undermine" the nation's government.

Next to a picture of the two world leaders, an image of Pooh walking next to Tigger was circulated on social media.

4 In 2013 memes circulated comparing Pooh and his slender friend "Tigger" to Xi with then-US President Barack Obama Credit: Reuters

4 Ewan McGregor stars as Christopher Robin in a new film about the lovable bear

The following year, a photo of Xi shaking hands with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shared next ot a picture of Pooh, and Eeyore, being Abe.

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China's refusal to release the film was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

The move will come as a shock, since China is the world's second-largest film market.

No official reason has been given for the censorship.

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