Xie Na: China’s internet got so mad about a celebrity’s ‘bad’ singing, her concert was cancelled

Popularity can make or break a career in show business. But for one celebrity in China, even a legion of devoted fans was not enough to stave off the wrath of the internet.

Xie Na, one of the most recognisable faces on Chinese television, realised this recently when her attempt to hold a nationwide concert tour ended in ignominy.

Her first leg of the tour, slated to begin in Beijing later this month, was cancelled abruptly over the weekend, after her singing talent was mocked and questioned online – and even admonished by state media.

This is the latest reminder of the pitfalls celebrities face navigating China’s entertainment scene, where observers say they have become outlets for young people’s social and economic frustrations.

For two decades, Xie was a main member of Happy Camp, a popular variety show. Initially known for minor roles in dramas, her bubbly personality and comedic chops soon won her recognition as one of China’s top TV personalities.

But she has apparently long harboured the dream of being a singer. “This year, I finally have the chance to seriously fulfil this dream,” she wrote on social media site Weibo in April, announcing that she would hold her first solo concerts in Chengdu, a snazzy city in the southwest.

When thousands of tickets went on sale days later, they were snapped up immediately, much to even Xie’s surprise. “My hands are trembling,” she posted on Weibo eight minutes after the tickets were launched, announcing that they had sold out.

The two concerts, held in Chengdu in May, were warmly received by fans, who were treated to nostalgic performances featuring Xie’s celebrity friends.

Her confidence soared after the shows. In a livestream, she expressed disbelief at her own singing skills. “By the end, I was not even out of breath,” she said, adding that she could have been a “pop queen”.

“Do you think I can do a tour?” she asked her viewers.