Next year’s live-action reboot of Disney’s Mulan is facing a Chinese boycott after its star, the actor Liu Yifei, expressed her support for the Hong Kong police amid the country’s protests.

Posting to the Chinese social media platform Weibo, Liu republished an image from The People’s Daily that read “I support the Hong Kong police; you can beat me up now” in Chinese, and then “What a shame for Hong Kong” below in English.

She also posted a message reading: “I also support the Hong Kong police”, alongside a heart and strong-arm emoji.

"Eye for an eye" - Protesters highlight police violence in Hong Kong Show all 13 1 /13 "Eye for an eye" - Protesters highlight police violence in Hong Kong "Eye for an eye" - Protesters highlight police violence in Hong Kong A protester blindfolds herself during the occupation of Hong Kong airport following an incident where riot police allegedly shot a teargas canister into a woman's eye Reuters "Eye for an eye" - Protesters highlight police violence in Hong Kong A protester with her right eye covered lies down in the arrival hall during the occupation of Hong Kong airport Getty "Eye for an eye" - Protesters highlight police violence in Hong Kong A protester holds up an alternative design of the Hong Kong metro system map that marks the locations where police have used teargas against demonstrators AFP/Getty "Eye for an eye" - Protesters highlight police violence in Hong Kong Scores of protesters occupy the arrival hall of Hong Kong airport following an incident where riot police allegedly shot a teargas canister into a woman's eye Reuters "Eye for an eye" - Protesters highlight police violence in Hong Kong A breathing mask is seen on the ground where a protester received medical attention after she was allegedly shot in the eye by riot police Getty "Eye for an eye" - Protesters highlight police violence in Hong Kong Protesters occupy the arrival hall of the Hong Kong airport Getty "Eye for an eye" - Protesters highlight police violence in Hong Kong Blindfolded protesters occupy the arrival hall of Hong Kong airport Getty "Eye for an eye" - Protesters highlight police violence in Hong Kong A protester holds a sign that refers to an incident where riot police allegedly shot a teargas canister into a woman's eye Reuters "Eye for an eye" - Protesters highlight police violence in Hong Kong A protester covers her right eye during the occupation of Hong Kong airport AFP/Getty "Eye for an eye" - Protesters highlight police violence in Hong Kong Protesters occupy the arrival hall in Hong Kong airport Reuters "Eye for an eye" - Protesters highlight police violence in Hong Kong As protesters occupy Hong Kong airport, a demonstrator covers his right eye in reference to an incident where riot police allegedly shot a teargas canister into a woman's eye EPA "Eye for an eye" - Protesters highlight police violence in Hong Kong A protester covers her right eye during the occupation of Hong Kong airport EPA "Eye for an eye" - Protesters highlight police violence in Hong Kong A protester holds up a sign referring to an incident where riot police allegedly shot a teargas canister into a woman's eye AP

As a result of the tweets, #BoycottMulan began trending on Weibo and Twitter, with users posting messages that included: “#BoycottMulan because while these people in Hong Kong are fighting for their rights while being brutalised by their own police, Liu Yifei is sitting her happy ass down in the US enjoying the rights those people don’t have while supporting the police brutality from afar.”

Another wrote: “I was happy when @DisneyStudios announce that they are making a new Mulan movie [sic]. She was my childhood hero. It is disappointed [sic] to see the actress who plays her does not empathise with the protesters in HK. They are fighting for their homeland like Mulan. #BoycottMulan”

“To whom it may concern,” began another. “Do not watch the live-action Mulan movie. Lead actress Liu Yifei supports the police brutality currently being seen in Hong Kong. She spits in the face of democracy, freedom, and human rights.”