Mainland Chinese male star Zhang Zhehan, who was originally scheduled to attend the “2024 hito Pop Music Awards” ceremony at the Taipei Arena on the evening of the 25th, unexpectedly had to cancel his participation, causing shock among his fans.
On the 23rd, news spread on the internet that Zhang Zhehan would be absent from the “2024 hito Pop Music Awards” ceremony. Subsequently, the organizer, “Hit FM Radio Network,” confirmed, “We received a letter from the artist Zhang Zhehan’s management company, ‘Rani Music’, informing us that due to unforeseen circumstances, Zhang Zhehan is unable to attend the 2024 hito Pop Music Awards ceremony.”
Zhang Zhehan’s agency, “Rani Music,” stated: “We are delighted to have been invited to participate in the 2024 hito Pop Music Awards ceremony and thank you for your support and recognition of the musical work of artist Zhang Zhehan. Due to force majeure factors, Zhang Zhehan is unable to participate in this awards ceremony.” Apart from apologizing, “Rani Music” also wished for the successful completion of the event. The specifics of the “force majeure factors” were not disclosed.
In anticipation of Zhang Zhehan’s arrival, his fans crowdfunded LED billboards outside the Taipei Arena this week, along with many subway lightboxes. However, his last-minute absence from the ceremony left fans in disbelief.
Known for his roles in ancient dramas such as “Nirvana in Fire” and “Love and Redemption,” Zhang Zhehan rose to fame in 2021 for his role as “Zhou Zishu” in the martial arts drama “Word of Honor.” As a crossover singer, he also sang the theme song “Solitary Dream” and the ending song “To the End of the World” for the series, receiving critical acclaim.
However, in August of the same year, Zhang Zhehan was exposed for attending a friend’s wedding in Japan in 2018 and allegedly taking photos in front of the Yasukuni Shrine, leading to an online backlash accusing him of being a “pro-Japanese” figure, “pro-Japan,” and “insulting China.” Almost overnight, Zhang Zhehan faced a comprehensive ban, his personal and studio Weibo accounts were forced to shut down, his music works were removed, all endorsements were terminated, and his entertainment career in mainland China came to a halt. Some netizens commented, “A single photo can ruin a person, it’s too frightening!””The CCP strictly controls ideology in the entertainment industry.”
Can Zhang Zhehan’s boss, Zhao Wei, who gained fame for her role as “Xiao Yanzi” in “My Fair Princess,” also faced a comprehensive ban overnight, and there has been no sign of her comeback to this day, possibly due to the impact of Zhang Zhehan’s incident.
Despite being digitally banned, Zhang Zhehan released a new album titled “Deep Blue” on major music platforms overseas in December 2022, with songs reaching the top of the global iTunes chart; in April of last year, he released another new album called “Mandala”; he held a concert in Bangkok, Thailand, in May, and in September, he performed at the “Primeval Theater” concert in Malaysia, singing songs like “Primeval Theater,” “Life’s Ups and Downs,” “The Day the Glacier Disappeared,” “Mandala,” and “Believer,” sparking a mass sing-along, demonstrating his enduring popularity overseas.