Facing Trump ban, China’s TikTok embeds itself into US culture

  • Creators say they haven’t been asked to make public statements in support of the app, but it comes naturally to some

TikTok has been particularly adept at cultivating minority talent that can escape notice at other social-media platforms. Photo: TNS

James Henry, known for slapstick comedy and dance videos on TikTok, got an email last fall from the app’s creator relationships team. Would he be interested in joining Mariah Carey to film something for TikTok to promote her holiday song, “All I Want For Christmas is You”?

Henry jumped at the chance. Soon he was filming from a mansion in West Hollywood, star-struck. Sony Music Entertainment, Carey’s record label, compensated him for his time. But there was something valuable for TikTok in the deal, too: loyalty. “It really makes me grateful,” Henry said. “It gives me the feeling that I would want to stick with this app.”

Print option is available for subscribers only.
SUBSCRIBE NOW
Copyright © 2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.