Hong Kong singer Joyce Cheng, who had been missing for two years, was set to participate in the Chinese variety show “Singer 2025” as a substitute singer for the seventh season. However, just 2 hours before the live broadcast on the 27th, the show’s production team suddenly announced that Joyce Cheng had to withdraw from this round of competition due to neck and ear injuries caused by improper handling of lighting equipment by the staff. The news shocked fans, who criticized the show’s team.
Prior to the announcement, Joyce Cheng had already arrived in Changsha, Hunan to record the show. She shared behind-the-scenes photos on Weibo and interacted with fans, asking for recommendations on local delicacies and expressing her eagerness to meet them soon. Many fans responded by recommending food and expressing their anticipation for her return to the stage. Her stylist also shared photos from the set with a caption that read, “Get back on your throne like the Queen you are,” indicating that she was fully prepared for her comeback. However, the sudden injury disrupted her plans and left many lamenting the situation.
On the evening of the 27th, the “Singer 2025” production team issued a statement explaining that during the filming of a VCR on the 25th, Joyce Cheng was accidentally injured due to mishandling of lighting equipment by the staff and had to be hospitalized for treatment. Despite expressing her desire to perform as long as her condition allowed on the 26th, she arrived at the show’s venue later that evening to rehearse the song “Goddess” but had to withdraw from the seventh round of competition due to lingering injuries to her shoulders, neck, and ears.
The statement from the show’s team also mentioned that they are always waiting for the return of the “Goddess” and revealed that Joyce Cheng would return for the next round of competition in better condition to deliver a performance that would satisfy the audience.
At 38 years old, Joyce Cheng, the daughter of artists Adam Cheng and the late Lydia Shum, has always attracted significant attention with her every move. Having made her debut as a singer in 2011, she achieved a significant breakthrough as a female singer in Hong Kong in 2022. However, since her concert at the Hong Kong Coliseum in March 2023, she has been absent from public events and rarely updated her social media platforms. Her two-year hiatus prompted her manager to respond to speculations from the public by saying she was “recovering from injuries.”
In April this year, fans noticed that Joyce Cheng had cleared all content from her Instagram account, sparking concern. Given previous rumors about her struggle with depression and her extended hiatus, fans were deeply worried about her well-being. Some sources indicated that she had recently ended her contract with “Sun Entertainment Culture” and signed with “Universal Music,” with plans to release a new song next month, suggesting that the deletion of her Instagram content was related to her upcoming projects.
Joyce Cheng’s return to the stage through “Singer 2025” created a sensation, and the news of her unexpected injury stirred up public opinion. Netizens criticized the show’s team, saying, “You guys are really unprofessional,” “Did you really injure a singer’s ear?” “You’ve gone too far; do you think it’s easy for artists to come on your show?” “Just shut it down; there shouldn’t be another season if safety is an issue.” “Wish you close down; who will come to your show next time?”