China has banned reality shows, saying the shows are misleading the youth. (file)
Beijing:
China on Thursday banned reality talent programs and ordered broadcasters to promote more masculine representations of men, in a sweeping crackdown on “immoral” pop culture Beijing believes is misleading young people. .
The talent shows that put hundreds of aspiring young actors through rigorous boot camps and subjected them to public votes became massively popular in China, criticized by obsessive fans and poor role models. is going.
China’s broadcasting regulator, the National Radio and Television Administration, said “broadcast and TV institutions must not display idol development programs or variety shows and reality shows.”
The regulator ordered broadcasters to protest artists with “unusual aesthetics” such as “sissy” men, “vulgar influencers”, increased salaries of stars and “lapsed morals”.
Faced with falling birth rates, Chinese authorities have attempted to instill traditional masculine values among the country’s youth by intensifying gym classes and criticizing male entertainers who model the sacred form of Korean pop idols.
Instead, broadcasters were urged to “strongly promote the excellent traditional Chinese culture … and the advanced socialist culture.”
Popular Chinese blogger Fang Xiaoyi last week suspended his account by Douyin – China’s version of TikTok – for “promoting unhealthy values” after some users complained about his “sissy” video.
Video streaming site iQiyi said last week that it would cancel all future Idol talent shows that are in development.
Authorities launched a broad crackdown on hoax financial practices and “immoral” conduct in the entertainment sector in recent months after several scandals implicated some of the country’s biggest entertainers.
Chinese actress Zheng Shuang was fined the equivalent of $46 million for tax evasion last week, while Chinese-Canadian pop star and former idol Chris Wu has been detained on rape charges.
At the same time, regulators have vowed to stop the behavior of China’s “chaotic” fandoms, such as what they believe to be irrational celebrity worship.
Beijing TV regulators abruptly shut down the massively popular idol talent show “Youth with You3” in May, after fans resorted to buying and dumping huge amounts of yogurt to vote for their favorite contestants.
Such shows often urge fans to purchase sponsored products in order to vote, but new rules prohibit this practice.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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