Chinese teen compared to Mulan after hiding gender to join boy band
A young girl apologised on social media for lying about her gender in trying to join a boy band
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A 13-year-old girl in China has apologised for lying about her gender and deceiving fans in trying to join a boy band.
In a statement on social media platform Weibo, Fu Jiayuan said she had lied about her gender to become a member of YGN Youth Club’s boot camp.
YGN Youth Club is a talent management company that only recruits boys in the 11 to 13 age group and trains them in singing and dancing to become future pop idols.
In her apology Fu said that she had lied because she was young and ignorant, BBC reported. She apologised to her fans and vowed to never join the entertainment industry again.
Fu’s apology has drawn comparisons on social media to Chinese folk lore Mulan, which was also captured in a Disney film.
According to Chinese legend, Mulan was a young girl who dressed as a man to save her country and protect her family.
Fu was not an official member of the band and only a member of the YGN Youth Club’s boot camp. However, she did appear in training videos shared on social media.
After Fu’s apology, the company said that her inclusion was due to negligent staff. It also said that the mistake had been made because auditions were held virtually due to the pandemic. It has promised to adhere to its own rules and regulations in the future, reported BBC.
Last month, China’s national broadcaster, the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) cracked down on shows that promote “effeminate styles”, in a bid to control content it regarded as “unhealthy.”
Studies have estimated that the Chinese pop idol industry is a multi billion pound industry where companies like YGN Youth Club are coveted by families who want their children to become famous pop stars.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments