Female Idol Bows in Apology for 1 Minute, Begging for Forgiveness Over a Photo
Recently, netizens have “dug up” a clip of a female idol bowing to apologize for dating, highlighting the harsh realities of the Chinese entertainment industry. Specifically, in late 2021, Xie Leilei, a member of the Chinese girl group GNZ48, faced severe backlash from fans after posting a photo that inadvertently revealed she was dating.
According to Chinese media at the time, netizens spotted a man in the reflection of a Christmas tree ornament in Leilei’s photo. Shortly after causing an uproar, the female idol quickly deleted the image from her social media. Fans also speculated that Leilei and her boyfriend were wearing the same shirt.
The scandal led to a wave of criticism aimed at Xie Leilei, as fans in China generally believe that idols should focus on their careers rather than dating. On February 6, 2022, Leilei appeared before the media and fans to apologize. She cried continuously and begged for forgiveness. Although she didn’t directly mention the dating scandal, Leilei apologized for not meeting the expectations of an idol.
The female idol added, “I’ve harmed the company, and I am willing to accept any punishment that arises from this. I hope to have a chance to start again. I did not do my job well, disappointed everyone, and negatively affected the company. I apologize to everyone once again.”
Meanwhile, Xie Lielie’s group, GNZ48 (short for GuangZhou48), is a large-scale Chinese idol girl group established in 2016 in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Source: K14
