【Epoch Times, September 30, 2026】Chinese pop diva Na Ying recently caused a stir at a concert in Chengdu when she spontaneously performed a song in memory of Liu Huan. The unauthorized performance led to a report being filed against her, but in an unusual move, the Chengdu authorities on Tuesday (September 29) decided to exempt her from punishment, much to the relief of Na Ying’s fans, who also expressed disappointment at the scrutiny the entertainment industry faces.
On September 29, the Chengdu Culture, Radio, Television, and Tourism Bureau (referred to as CRTT Bureau) responded to Na Ying’s impromptu addition of the song “Bent Moon” by stating that after verification, it was found that Na Ying only sang a snippet of the song during an audience interaction segment at the concert, not a full performance, hence not requiring re-approval for a program change, and thereby no sanctions were imposed.
The incident stemmed from the passing of Chinese musician Liu Huan on September 25, 2026. As a longtime friend, singer Na Ying, at her solo concert in Chengdu on September 26, emotionally added Liu Huan’s classic song “Bent Moon” to express her deep condolences. A short clip of this performance of “Bent Moon” quickly garnered over tens of millions of views on a short video platform.
In the video, clad in black, Na Ying said to the audience, “I want to sing a song he used to sing on this stage as a tribute to him.” Her voice trembled as she sang.
However, Na Ying’s action was not listed in the officially approved program in advance, which led to some individuals reporting her for allegedly violating the “Regulations on Commercial Performance Management,” which prohibit unauthorized changes to the program mid-performance.
Some commentators called Na Ying’s performance a “costly tribute,” expressing admiration for her gesture, while also expressing concerns that she might face fines.
Despite eventually receiving an exemption from the authorities, the decision sparked heated discussions online. Many netizens questioned whether a lesser-known newcomer in the music industry would receive such leniency from the authorities for a similar action. There was also outrage towards the person who filed the report, with many netizens expressing disappointment with the authorities’ scrutiny of the entertainment industry.
An article from the “Star Entertainment Investigation” published on September 29 on the 360 Entertainment website stated, “The CRTT Bureau lightly dismissed this matter with a single sentence of ‘not requiring re-approval for a program change,’ but behind this inconspicuous statement lies the breath rhythm of the entire performance industry: do the rules protect genuine emotions or impede them?”
Just a few weeks ago, Chinese renowned crosstalk performer and co-founder of De Yun She, Guo Degang, faced an investigation after he improvised the lyrics of a red song during a performance in Wuhan which led to a report being filed against him. On September 7, Wuhan’s Culture, Radio, Television, and Tourism Bureau issued a penalty notice.
These two incidents have drawn attention once again to the content approval system for live entertainment events in China.
While Na Ying was exempted, the official has not indicated any adjustments to the existing system for approving live performances.
The scrutiny of China’s entertainment industry by the Communist Party has once again attracted the attention of Western media. Mainstream media such as The Washington Post and The Independent from the UK have republished the Associated Press report on this incident.
According to the report, in China, live performance content, including songs and scripts for comedy shows, must be approved in advance by local authorities, reflecting a long-standing rule that shows the strict scrutiny of the entertainment industry by the Communist Party. Artists who violate the regulations face fines or even being barred from future performances or public appearances.