Fans of Blackpink's Lisa are shocked at the news that Weibo, one of China's largest social media platforms, has shut down the K-pop sensation's account without any explanation. The account boasted over eight million followers.
An error message stating that her account was "not viewable due to being reported for violating laws (and) regulations" has taken over Lisa's personal page on Weibo.
The platform also muted renowned Chinese actress Angelababy, formerly known as Angela Yeung. The sudden ban has caused frenzied speculation among fans.
According to Straightimes report, the bans may be related to a controversial event that happened in late September when Angelababy, along with fellow Chinese actress Zhang Jiani, attended a show by Lisa, who performed at the French cabaret Crazy Horse Paris.
Crazy Horse is known for its burlesque performances and scantily clad dancers, and the Chinese stars' visit received backlash online. It came at a time when Chinese President Xi Jinping was said to be intensifying efforts to crack down on celebrity fan culture.
In 2021, Xi launched actions ostensibly meant to reform the entertainment industry, such as banning film stars with "incorrect" political views, capping exorbitant salaries and restraining celebrity fan culture. In addition to addressing concerns about "vulgar and obscene" content, these measures were supposedly aimed at cultivating motivated, patriotic and productive young citizens by regulating entertainment, after-school tutoring and online gaming.
Both Angelababy, 34, and Zhang, 36, were barred from posting on Weibo due to their "violation of relevant laws and regulations." Their accounts on Douyin, the Chinese counterpart of TikTok, were also blocked, while Lisa's Weibo account appears to have been fully taken down.
