Cross-dressing performance of Little Shen Yang.

July. 30, 2010 -- Xiao Shen Yang, or "Little Shen Yang," has become one of the most popular comedians in China after his cross-dressing performance on CCTV Spring Festival Gala in 2009.

However, Newsweek Magazine published an article billing Little Shen Yang as the "dirtiest man in China." Regarding this Liu Shuangping, the art director of Benmountain Media Group, to which Little Shenyang belongs, said the Newsweek was obvious "claptrap. "

Liu said that he had already noticed the report in Newsweek and he would show his respect to the media's right to comment on a public figure, but that did not mean they would agree with the title of "the dirtiest man in China."

He also suggested Newsweek's reporters and editors should learn more about China's folk culture and er ren zhuan, or "two-person twist"—which already has a 300-year-history in China.

In the article, Newsweek says "In person, he (Little Shen Yang) is modest, even polite, making it hard to imagine him telling off-color jokes, chugging multiple beers onstage, and prancing about in full makeup, a tuxedo, and sequined hair clips, squeaking, 'I’m all man!'

In an interview with Newsweek, he denied that his unconventional stage persona had any homosexual message. 'It's just a performing style to make people laugh, to be closer to real life.' He denies speculation that he's homosexual, and has a 5-year-old daughter with his wife, Shen Chunyang, who often performs with him on stage.

Newsweek attributes Little Shen Yang's fame to the shifting standards of 'permissiveness' in Chinese society, and it also says "dirty jokes and other sex-related topics—which Chinese have dubbed 'yellow content'—are venturing out of the closet, onto the stage and into public discourse.”