Why is China cracking down on reality TV shows? K-pop inspired Youth With You, starring Blackpink’s Lisa, was abruptly pulled after regulators called out ‘absurd celebrity-chasing’ fans
- Modelled on Korean shows, IQIYI’s viral hit Youth With You was suddenly pulled from the air after authorities blamed it for a ‘frenzied’ milk-buying craze
- TV variety shows must ‘vigorously promote core socialist values and spread positive energy’, according to new Chinese broadcasting regulations
Beijing TV authorities have ordered online entertainment shows to promote socialism instead of “irrational” star-chasing as part of a crackdown on China’s increasingly obsessive celebrity fan culture.
Modelled after similar programmes in Korea and Japan, boy band reality shows such as Produce Camp 2021 and Youth With You have become viral sensations in China, creating massive armies of mostly young, female fans who vocally support their favourite contestants online.
Online variety shows must insist on taste, style and responsibility; resist vulgarity and kitsch; vigorously promote core socialist values and spread positive energy
Authorities abruptly suspended the latest season of Youth With You last week soon before its finale, after a leading contestant was embroiled in an online scandal over his family’s alleged past business dealings.
At the same time, state media heavily criticised the show’s fans for the frenzied purchase of milk produced by the show’s sponsor – the cartons carried QR codes to vote for contestants.
That led to the dumping of large quantities of milk, which fans filmed and posted on the internet.
“Certain online variety programmes have seen issues such as irrational fan support, celebrity-chasing and hype … which urgently need strengthened guidance and timely rectification,” the Beijing Radio and Television Bureau said in a notice on Monday, May 10.
“Online variety shows must insist on taste, style and responsibility; resist vulgarity and kitsch; vigorously promote core socialist values and spread positive energy.”
The guidelines ban shows from letting fans spend money to vote for contestants and order them to strictly vet guests’ backgrounds for criminal records, personal scandals and “bad social influence”.