On December 10th, after nearly a year off the air, the crowned “China’s top internet celebrity”, Feng Timo, made a reappearance in a livestream on Douyin. Facing a barrage of questions from viewers scrolling through, she explained her one-year absence as being due to a recurrence and metastasis of thyroid cancer. Pointing to her neck, she expressed relief that she had undergone a successful surgery to remove the cancer and her body was currently in good recovery.
Formerly known as Feng Yanan, Feng Timo is considered one of the first successful cases in China of transitioning from an internet celebrity to a singer. Initially gaining fame by covering songs online, she amassed 60 million followers on live streaming platforms. In recent years, she appeared on numerous TV shows, released individual singles, and sang theme songs for TV dramas, reaching the peak of her popularity. However, her sudden disappearance at the height of her career caught many by surprise.
In July 2023, Feng Timo publicly revealed her diagnosis of advanced-stage thyroid cancer, for which she had already undergone surgery. Despite gradually returning to work in August of the same year, her postoperative hoarseness had caused her moments of despair. Nonetheless, in June 2024, Feng Timo reemerged actively in livestreams, garnering high engagement. During one notable livestream, some fans observed her broadcasting at 3 a.m., marveling at her dedication. At that time, she was eating cherries, playfully smearing jam near her mouth and then pretending to be injured.
This particular livestream sparked discussions among her fans, prompting Feng Timo to disclose more about her health condition. She revealed that following her recovery from cancer, she still faced issues related to her cervical spine, lumbar spine, anemia, Helicobacter pylori infection, and five pulmonary nodules, all serious and challenging conditions.
Analyzing the situation of the 33-year-old Feng Timo, some fans explained the toll of livestreaming: sitting for long periods can lead to neck and lumbar spine problems, while the Helicobacter pylori infection was likely due to prolonged consumption of takeout during livestreams. Some even jokingly suggested that Feng Timo’s pulmonary nodules might have been caused by the stress from online detractors.
Over the past year, Feng Timo took another break from livestreaming, triggering various speculations. It wasn’t until December 10th that she went live to personally address the situation, revealing her cancer recurrence and metastasis, which led to her undergoing a second surgery earlier this year.
Attentive fans noticed that Feng Timo wore a blue ribbon and bow around her neck that day, cleverly covering her surgical scar. She reassured her followers that doctors advised her to maintain a positive mindset, avoid late nights, and asked them not to worry. She also expressed that she preferred continuing her beloved livestreaming work rather than staying home or going out just because of her health, as she was now able to resume normal work and life.
Apart from health issues, Feng Timo also announced a significant career change. She terminated her contract with the original company and established her own media company, “Timo Media.”
Feng Timo stated that after more than a decade as a livestream host, she hoped to pass on her experiences to the new generation and assist those aspiring to become livestreamers. Addressing rumors of her disappearance due to various false reasons, such as nearing death or getting married and having children, she laughed them off, clarifying that none of them were true.
In the closing moments of her livestream, Feng Timo promised with a smile, “As long as you listen, I will keep singing.” While the internet celebrity group known as “Douyu F4,” hailed as the four major songstresses of Douyu, have gone their separate ways due to bans and other reasons, Feng Timo, the only one who managed to make a name for herself, experiencing frequent health “alarms,” evokes a sense of sympathy.