On November 19th, a 5-second video clip of well-known Chinese host He Jiong at a KTV gathering went viral on the internet. In the video, He Jiong appeared different from his usual calm demeanor on screen as he sat somewhat awkwardly. Beside him, a mature-looking woman was seen talking animatedly while casually draping her arm around He Jiong’s shoulder, sparking discussions among netizens.
From the footage, it seemed that He Jiong was present at a certain KTV establishment alongside other people that day. He was dressed in a dark casual short-sleeved shirt paired with khaki pants, looking quite relaxed. The table in the private room was adorned with a delicate fruit platter and some scattered wine glasses. He sat somewhat stiffly, surrounded by people, including a sophisticated-looking woman who was chatting with him while affectionately touching his shoulder and patting him on the back at intervals, seemingly comforting him.
Normally graceful in handling social situations, He Jiong seemed a bit overwhelmed by this particular setting. His hands were somewhat stiffly placed on his thighs, appearing hesitant to make eye contact with the woman beside him. Instead, he seemed lost in thought, looking displeased in another direction. The man next to him occasionally chimed in, and throughout the interaction, He Jiong seemed like an outsider, lacking the usual ease and comfort he exuded in social gatherings before.
The video’s release stirred discussions among the public. The identity of the woman, referred to as “Big Sister,” became a focal point of online attention. Some speculated that she might be a veteran figure in the entertainment industry, while others believed she was just a close friend of He Jiong, sparking debates about whether He Jiong might have also experienced workplace “unspoken rules.”
According to insiders, the woman in the video is not the rumored “female tycoon” or wealthy woman but a news anchor from Changsha named Li Jing. She is not to be confused with the well-known host of “Up Close” Li Jing. Given Li Jing’s longer career in the industry compared to He Jiong, his reserved expression might have stemmed from a sense of respect towards her.
In fact, a video surfaced three years ago showing He Jiong, Zhou Xun, Huang Lei, and other celebrities gathering at the Wuzhen Theatre Festival. Initially, the group was seen dining and chatting merrily, but suddenly, He Jiong became emotional, embracing Zhou Xun in tears, even seen with shoulder spasms. Zhou Xun comforted him, asking others for tissues to wipe his tears, causing a commotion on the spot.
As reported by Chinese media outlet “Sohu Entertainment”, during the so-called “Clean-up Operation” carried out by the State Administration of Radio and Television three years ago, numerous television variety shows were required to undergo revisions. As a result, long-standing programs like “Happy Camp” hosted by He Jiong and Xie Na were permanently taken off the air under the pretext of “upgrading and renewing.” Today, the former members of the “Happy Family” have gone their separate ways, with some changing careers and others exiting the industry.
Previously, various entertainment figures in China have faced scrutiny and consequences, from Fan Bingbing’s hefty fine of over 880 million RMB due to a tax scandal, to the blacklisting of Wu Yifan, Zhao Wei, and Zheng Shuang being fined 299 million RMB for “Yin-Yang Contracts.” Additionally, Li Yundi, known as the “Piano Prince,” was detained for involvement in solicitation, leading to his expulsion from the Chinese Musicians Association and a professional boycott by the Chinese Association of Performing Arts. The chilling effect continues to linger in the entertainment industry, leaving everyone on edge in the Chinese entertainment scene today.