Asia’s Dancing Queen Jolin Tsai (蔡依林) has been receiving a lot of backlash for “inappropriately” using Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Girls High School’s uniform in her new music video for her latest single, “EGO-HOLIC”.
The video is said to be helmed by Taiwanese producer Starr Chen (陳星翰) and it focuses on the topic of school bullying, which is a major social issue in Taiwan.
Since the release of the music video on 31st October, many students and staff members from the high school, who were deeply offended by the content, left apology requests on the singer’s Facebook page, saying that the video seriously tarnished the school’s image.
Though Tsai, who is currently in London to compete in a fondant cake competition, has yet to respond, Chen explained that “a school’s reputation is not built on their uniform”.
“Please take your aim at me, I’m the target. I can guarantee that it would be impossible for the school to be affected negatively just because of one music video! The saddest part is about the way you love yourselves inside,” he said.
The music video’s plot focuses on a girl named Zero and it is set in the year 2026. Zero, who lives in a society dominated by violence, drug, and sex, was heavily bullied in high school and wishes to take revenge on her bullies someday by turning beautiful.
Many fans commented that they did not realise the school uniform until it was reported on the news. One YouTube user said (translation), “To be honest, before Zhongsan High requested to have the MV removed, I did notice the school uniform at all”.
The music video has since been taken down, but we managed to find it on the interweb. Watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyxrRou4kfg
What do you think about the controversial video? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Sources: The Hive, Toggle, Focus Taiwan News Channel.
