China’s youngest ever boy band rebrands after accusations of child exploitation and claims it was a money-making scam
- Boy band forced to rebrand after fierce criticism of the boy’s young ages
- The group has kept its English name Panda Boys though
Seven primary school children who formed China’s youngest ever boy band, have been forced to rebrand themselves as a children’s art troupe after accusations of child exploitation.
The agency behind the performers, Asia Starry Sky Group, announced on Tuesday that the group, who are aged between 7 and 11 years old would change its name from Tianfu Boy Band to Panda Children’s Art Troupe after it came under fire for using young boys in the entertainment industry. The group has kept its English name of Panda Boys, however.
The group made its debut on Friday last week with their first performance in western China’s Chengdu city, also known as Tianfu, but received widespread criticism from the public and state media because of the boy’s ages.
“We won’t cultivate the fandom culture. Neither will any capital operation be involved. We are just a group of children who love singing and dancing, doing something meaningful together,” Asia Starry Sky Group stated in a statement on Tuesday amid mounting criticism.
It followed on from another statement on Saturday, which said the company did not intend to profit from the boys performances and that it requires the members to prioritise study over band training.
The statement also claimed the song performed used positive and encouraging lyrics, and elements of traditional Sichuan opera, and said the boys aim to become idols who: “have ideals, love to study, and are culturally, physically, and mentally healthy”.
However few people believed the company’s claims the venture was not commercial in nature.
