On August 22, Xiong Zhihao, the director of mainland China’s variety shows “100% Open Mic” and “100% Singer,” posted a farewell message on his Weibo account under the username “Yang Yang Yang Ah Yang Yang.” He revealed that due to business losses exceeding 30 million RMB, he felt overwhelmed and had suicidal thoughts. However, he later updated his post, stating that the police had intervened and helped him, preventing any drastic actions.
Xiong Zhihao confessed on his personal Weibo account about the platform’s corrupt practices, disclosing that he accumulated debts of over 30 million RMB while producing shows. His entrepreneurial endeavors had failed, leaving him in a crushing debt situation related to the production of these programs.
He disclosed the challenges he faced with the initial show “100%,” encountering pitfalls set by the platform. He specifically mentioned a certain producer at Mango TV who forced him to “buy data,” but despite spending the money, the data was not acknowledged, and a 10% withholding fee was imposed. The subsequent shows he worked on at Tencent fared even worse, with increasing investments but diminishing data results. Despite the seemingly fair profit-sharing rules of the platforms, the actual split for two programs over two years amounted to less than 2.65 million RMB, which was disproportionate to his investments, and the production company had no authority to verify the actual data.
In his heartfelt message, Xiong Zhihao recounted his struggles to keep the projects running, resorting to borrowing money from relatives and even resorting to online loans to cover the deficits, which only worsened the financial burden. He expressed regret towards those who put their trust in him, apologizing to various individuals associated with him, emphasizing that his debts are unrelated to his family and his desire to shield them from any distress. He particularly felt remorseful towards the team members for not being able to pay their salaries on time and failing to provide a conducive work environment. He cautioned against following his path of resorting to online loans.
Reflecting on the tough period he endured, Xiong Zhihao described the constant harassment from debt collectors, legal disputes, threats, and even abuse, which took a toll on his health, leading to heart problems. Despite contemplating giving up multiple times, he couldn’t bring himself to abandon everything entirely. It wasn’t until a supplier remarked that they would forgive the debt if he passed away that he seriously considered ending his life.
Recent updates confirm that Xiong Zhihao has been rescued. In an evening Weibo post, he expressed gratitude for the concern, acknowledging the trouble caused by his moment of distress and revealing that the police had intervened to save him. He apologized for causing inconvenience and reassured that he won’t engage in any extreme actions in the future.
Public records reveal that Xiong Zhihao, also known as “Yang Yang Yang,” was born in 1997 and is the founder of Hubei Baibo Baigou Media, as well as the general director of the mainland China’s “100%” series of music variety shows. At the age of 28, he entered the entertainment industry in 2017, serving as the executive director for major projects such as “Tmall Double Eleven Gala” and “Produce 101,” before taking on the role of general director for the “100%” series in 2022.