Anyone else feel like the year is catching up on them? 2021 is ending on a very different note than when it first started. Although the panic from the pandemic is (mostly) over, we’ve lost several celebrities thanks to various scandals.
Chinese celebrities in particular are feeling the heat now more than ever, thanks to a recent announcement by China Association of Performing Arts (CAPA). Yesterday (23rd November), the association released a list of people who are banned from making a comeback in China. Unfortunately, artistes like Kris Wu (吴亦凡), Zheng Shuang (郑爽) and Zhang Zhe Han (张哲瀚) have made the list.
The list has the names of 88 people who are being boycotted. Most of them are influencers and online celebrities. However, this is the first time artistes have been included. Curiously enough, the reasons why these three artistes in particular were being banned, all involved their fans.
News site People’s Daily (人民日报) managed to speak to the association and find out the reasoning behind the bans. According to the association, they were targeting those who had, while livestreaming, violated laws and regulations, violated social public order and customs, and were a bad social influence. Their main concern however was the effect these idols had on their fans.
Kris Wu’s fans were cited as lacking “basic common sense”. Apparently, their throwaways comments about helping him escape prison and abscond overseas have not been overlooked. Authorities have viewed these as remarks which ignore laws and regulations.
Chinese actress Zheng Shuang on the other hand was criticised for “repeatedly voicing violating facts” on her Instagram. The actress had switched platforms after she was banned from Weibo. Her actions have led to fans posting support and abusing the report mechanisms of sites.
Zhang Zhe Han’s fans may be the ones who take the cake however. The actor was boycotted by many after he was seen posing in front of Japanese shrines. Apparently, his actions were seen as being ignorant of China’s bad blood with Japan. However, loyal fans have been protesting his innocence on public platforms and picking verbal fights as they stick up for their idol. This has made authorities unhappy as they have seemingly been led to disregard China’s history and ignore right from wrong.
It doesn’t seem like these artists will ever be able to make a comeback. Not in China at least. Unless CAPA changes their minds, which is highly unlikely, they will have to make do with finding work outside of their home country.
Well, if nothing else, these artistes will know there’s always people willing to be in their corner. After all, their loyal fans have certainly proven so.
Sources: Weibo (1)(2), Xuan, Global Times
