On November 4, renowned Chinese singer Yang Kun made his first public statement regarding the much-discussed “off-key incident” that occurred during the live airing of the singing competition “Singer” in June. In an interview on the show “Jing Qing Qi Dai,” hosted by Li Jing and Dai Jun, Yang revealed the underlying cause of this surprising event—the acute panic attack he experienced upon learning of his father’s unexpected accident, which left him feeling completely out of control.
Yang recounted the shocking details of what happened before the live performance of “Singer.” His father suffered a serious accident while attempting to climb a wall to prune some branches, resulting in multiple fractures throughout his body. As someone who has endured a fracture himself, Yang was overwhelmed by a profound sense of fear and heartbreak when he received the news. This emotional turbulence reached its peak in the hospital when he viewed his father’s medical images—triggering a panic attack that caused him to faint.
After this panic attack, Yang was in a precarious physical state. He struggled with confusion and heart discomfort, yet was faced with the unavoidable reality of an upcoming performance that could not be postponed. Summoning all his strength, he made his way to the stage, where he experienced intense physical reactions such as racing heartbeats, unstable breathing, and muscle spasms in his legs, which ultimately resulted in his singing being out of tune. Following the performance, Yang was devastated, believing he had ruined an important competition and spent the entire night crying and unable to sleep.
Now 53 years old, Yang also disclosed during the program that he has been battling depression for two decades since his diagnosis and continues to rely on regular medication to manage his condition. The fundamental cause of his struggles can be traced back to his difficult early years spent in relentless pursuit of a livelihood in Beijing, leading to long-term post-traumatic stress responses.
In his candid revelation, Yang urged others who face similar challenges to seek medical assistance actively and to voice their struggles rather than bearing the burden alone. He emphasized that depression is not something that can be conquered through mere “strength” and that it is crucial to follow medical advice and engage in appropriate physical activities.
During the fifth live elimination round of “Singer 2026,” Yang Kun took the stage as a substitute singer and attempted to perform a Yi ethnic-style song titled “Mother’s River.” However, from the very first note, it was clear he was completely off key. This wasn’t a mere occasional slip in pitch; it was a considerable and systematic deviation affecting nearly every line of the song’s opening. The performance, at that time, was labeled by viewers and critics alike as a serious “systematic and sustained” stage accident, resulting in Yang being eliminated from the competition.
Because he was experiencing the late stages of a panic attack during the performance, Yang felt unable to disclose the details of his father’s accident and his subsequent panic episode. As a result, public opinion turned sharply against him, with many critics claiming he had aged and should refrain from embarrassing himself further. His mistake became the highlight of the evening, with remarks likening his performance to a “car crash,” poking fun at how he “found his way to elimination at the very first note.”
Now that he has found balance in both his mindset and health, Yang felt it was time to share his story, shedding light on his experience and hoping to inspire others to seek help and understanding regarding mental health challenges.