Chinese Rocket Girls feeling burnt out after just one month as members of pop group
Meng Meiqi, Wu Xuanyi and Zhang Zining quit group chosen by fans’ vote citing overwork
Just over a month after its formation, a Chinese girl band chosen by millions of fans is in crisis after three members announced that they had quit due to stress and overwork.
Meng Meiqi, Wu Xuanyi and Zhang Zining announced their decision to quit Rocket Girl 101 in a statement posted on Weibo through their agents Yuehua Entertainment on Thursday afternoon.
“We had to take into account problems that had arisen, including burdening them with unreasonable work arrangements that brought stress and damaged their health,” the notice read.
The three had been selected to join the 11-member group following a fans’ vote in the grand final of the immensely popular show Produce 101.
The programme attracted 4.76 billion online views between the first episode airing in April and the final in June, and prompted extensive discussions on social media.
Tencent, which co-produced the show and holds the contract of the artists, also released a notice via Weibo on Thursday evening, denying their claims of overwork and demanding that they honour their contracts. However, it did not say whether it would take the matter to court.