Taiwanese singer Cyndi Wang made a headline appearance at a star-studded concert in Harbin, China on October 3rd. When faced with requests from fans for close interaction during the event, she promptly refused, stating, “Without approval, you can’t come up.” This action sparked heated discussions and criticism of the censorship system in China.
During the concert on October 3rd, Cyndi Wang was approached by a male fan in the audience who requested intimate interaction. She replied that she couldn’t come down from the stage. When he mentioned going up on stage by himself, Cyndi Wang jokingly responded, “I can’t invite you up either… everything on this stage requires approval, you know? Without approval, you can’t come up.” After saying this, she humorously added, “You just stay seated,” prompting laughter throughout the venue.
The phrase “Without approval, you can’t come up” quickly went viral, sparking discussions among netizens. While some speculated that it might be an excuse from Cyndi Wang to reject her fans, the mention of “approval” by Wang was not a joke; it referred to the mandatory official regulations. Therefore, many believed that Cyndi Wang was telling the truth.
After the video circulated, many internet users criticized the stringent administrative approval and political censorship in China regarding cultural performances. Even simple spontaneous interactions such as a singer stepping off the stage or a fan coming up require rigid adherence to official approval procedures.
Some netizens teased, “Uh-oh, did she get approval to say that?” “Cyndi Wang seems to have leaked state secrets.” “She stated a harsh reality about China, there’s never been any impromptu performances.”
Facing criticism from netizens, some internet users swiftly came to Cyndi Wang’s defense. Some praised her for cleverly bringing up the “compliance rules” on the spot, showcasing witty alertness. Others distorted the facts, portraying Cyndi Wang’s rejection of close interaction with fans as turning down requests for songs not on the setlist, attempting to alleviate external criticisms of China’s censorship.
In fact, on July 24th this year, Guo Degang performed in a Beijing opera production of “Jigong Living Buddha” at the Qilin Theater in Wuhan. He changed the lyrics of the revolutionary song “Playing My Beloved Pipa in Weishan Lake” to “Peaceful in the Forbidden City” and added humorous phrases like “Amithaba Buddha, Mama Mama Hug.” Following a report against him, the Wuhan Culture and Tourism Bureau stated that although the performance had legal permission, Guo Degang’s altered segment was not reflected in the submitted materials, potentially violating the “Regulations on Commercial Performance Management.” They declared the launch of a formal investigation and subsequently canceled all of Guo Degang’s upcoming performances.