【Epoch Times News on December 26, 2025】 Taiwanese artist Zhu Xiaotian continues to be at the center of controversy after being “dismissed” from the boy band “F4” tour. He has recently taken to the internet multiple times to vent his frustrations towards “F3” and has even revealed to fans that Mayday lead singer Ashin lip-synced. However, with a change of attitude, on December 25, Zhu Xiaotian posted an apology on Weibo, clarifying the recent turmoil.
On December 25, the keyword “Zhu Xiaotian exposes Mayday’s company” trended on Weibo.
The incident stemmed from Zhu Xiaotian claiming in a fan group that he had reported Mayday’s affiliated talent agency, “B’In Music,” and had cooperated with relevant departments to conduct an official investigation.
Zhu Xiaotian’s expose alleged that “B’In Music” was involved in multiple violations, including colluding with scalpers to inflate ticket prices, transferring funds through cross-border trading companies to evade taxes, forcing artists to lip-sync, and even involving political stances.
From December 19 to December 22, the “F FOREVER Star City Tour” by “F4” was held in Shanghai, with four consecutive shows. Ashin, the lead singer of Mayday, acted as the producer of the concert and performed alongside Jerry Yan, Vanness Wu, and Ken Chu. During the final show on December 22, Ashin accidentally stepped into a gap on stage, falling roughly 2 meters and injuring his hand, shocking the audience.
During the interactive segment of the concert, Ashin expressed, “Thanks to Ken (Zhu Xiaotian), who couldn’t make it.” He acknowledged that the lineup and the scene were not what everyone expected but vowed to continue working hard, still hoping for a full reunion of “F4.” He explained that he felt compelled to step in because he couldn’t bear to leave a corner of the stage empty, didn’t want F3 to bear all the pressure, and couldn’t disappoint the fans who had waited for twenty years. He emphasized that he was merely “a guy who is persistent about music and performances” and had to squeeze in preparations for the 4 F3 shows while completing 22 other concerts.
Recently, multiple screenshots circulating on mainland Chinese social media purported to show conversations within Zhu Xiaotian’s fan group, displaying heated discussions. When fans relayed Ashin’s words about “anticipating everyone’s reunion,” Zhu Xiaotian responded in the fan group, saying, “He’s said it several times, but I haven’t received any messages on my end… Let’s just treat it as empty talk…”
As one wave subsides, another rises. Zhu Xiaotian revealed in his fan group that due to suffering from “acoustic trauma,” he experienced chronic ringing in his ears and frequently went off-key while singing. He stressed that he insisted on singing live with a full mic, refusing to deceive consumers. He then shifted the focus, saying, “I actually went off-key in Taipei Arena and Beijing’s Bird’s Nest, but you can’t hear it in the released videos; everyone can think about that.” These words were seen as implying that the performances at these two venues, including Mayday’s Ashin, might have involved lip-syncing or post-production editing.
According to previous reports, when Zhu Xiaotian responded to the news of being removed from “F4,” he claimed he had been “smeared” and “slandered.” He only learned about his dismissal through the reports and had never signed with “B’In Music” previously. He disclosed that a few months ago, after rejecting three requests from them, “B’In Music” unilaterally cut off all contact with him. Subsequently, online rumors emerged attributing his exclusion to “leaking” information leading to event postponements and eventual removal from the group.
“F4” appeared twice this year at Mayday concerts, with their song “Meteor Rain” evoking nostalgia for fans of “Meteor Garden.” Next year marks the 25th anniversary of F4’s formation, and fans were hopeful to see Jerry Yan, Vanness Wu, Zhu Xiaotian, and Ken Chu embark on a tour together. However, due to the controversy, plans for the four to perform together have changed, and Zhu Xiaotian has been “dismissed.”
On November 15, Zhu Xiaotian appeared as the lead singer of “Qidian Band” at a concert. During the performance, as he covered Chyi Chin’s classic song “Winter’s Tale,” his emotions suddenly overwhelmed him. He was seen wiping tears with a towel during the interlude, receiving encouragement from the audience. Netizens speculated that this incident might be related to the changes in the F4 performance plans.
Since being “dismissed” from “F4,” Zhu Xiaotian has engaged in multiple disputes with “B’In Music,” Mayday’s Ashin, and the other members of F4 on social media or in private fan groups. Several screenshots of his revelations in the fan group have surfaced online.
With the incident escalating, related topics trended on Weibo, sparking discussions among netizens from both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
While some netizens believe that the screenshots may be fabricated and not necessarily from Zhu Xiaotian himself, on December 25, Zhu Xiaotian issued a statement, not only admitting that the account was indeed his but also acknowledging that his emotional outburst in the fan group led to inappropriate remarks. He expressed sincere apologies for the subsequent unwarranted speculations and acknowledged that it unnecessarily consumed public resources, extending his earnest apologies to the public.
Zhu Xiaotian stated, “Since the events related to the F4 reunion in September this year, I have been continuously harassed by online violence, causing immense mental pressure.” He described the recent situation as intensifying, seriously disrupting his regular work rhythm, and needlessly affecting the peaceful lives of his family, leaving him mentally and physically exhausted.
Reflecting on his controversial statements, Zhu Xiaotian admitted, “In the face of turmoil, I failed to control my emotions with a rational attitude and did not handle the situation properly, setting a wrong example. I apologize once again.” He specifically clarified that his earlier comments regarding the mainland’s “Taiwan Affairs Office” were not in line with the actual situation and promised to “be cautious with his words” in the future.
Despite Zhu Xiaotian’s sudden change in attitude, some netizens noted that upon closer examination of his clarifications and apologies, the rhetoric appeared superficial, lacking concrete evidence like the “group chat screenshot accusations,” and failing to directly apologize to the embroiled parties — Mayday and the company. This ambiguity raised suspicions.
Following Zhu Xiaotian’s statement, the comment section quickly filled with Mayday’s fans, demanding apologies from Zhu Xiaotian to Mayday’s Ashin, “B’In Music,” and the three members of F3. Perhaps overwhelmed by the uproar stemming from his apology, Zhu Xiaotian activated the “One-click Protection” feature on Weibo, effectively shutting down the comment section. While this avoidance tactic was considered weak by netizens, it potentially aided Zhu Xiaotian, who was unwell, in relieving emotional pressure.