Popular Chinese internet celebrity Li Ziqi, who holds the title of having the most subscribers on a Chinese YouTube channel, set foot back into the spotlight after a hiatus of over three years. Li Ziqi made a comeback on November 12, reconnecting with her social media fans with a heartfelt message declaring, “I miss you all,” sparking discussions among Chinese netizens.
In one of her Weibo posts, Li Ziqi mentioned, “This lacquer video is four years late.” The video documents her intricate lacquer carving process, in which she named her lacquerware artwork ‘Purple Air Comes from the East’, signifying a turnaround of fate after countless challenges.
Having previously been embroiled in disputes with “Hangzhou Weinian,” Li Ziqi’s YouTube channel had ceased updates since the upload of the video titled “Chopsticks, Rice, Oil, Salt, Soy Sauce, Vinegar, and Tea” on July 14, 2021. About a month later, on a late night in August 29, she abruptly expressed her disgust on the social media platform “Oasis,” saying, “Disgusted, couldn’t hold it in this quickly, could you?” The following morning, Li Ziqi mentioned having reported an incident, and in replies to netizens in the comment section, she expressed, “It’s terrifying! Capital is truly a formidable force!” Her assistant later addressed the situation on social media, stating, “Sister Qi has recently been temporarily dealing with issues involving the company and third-party companies.”
At that time, many were questioning whether Li Ziqi had encountered troubles related to “capital”?
Originally named Li Jiajia, Li Ziqi is also one of the most renowned Chinese self-media personalities overseas, known for her videos featuring a traditional style of creating food and showcasing picturesque rural landscapes. Her videos have captivated numerous fans, transporting them into a utopian world. As of February 2, 2021, Li Ziqi broke a Guinness World Record for the “most subscribed Chinese YouTube channel” with 15.3 million subscribers, and even after a hiatus of over three years, her latest subscriber count had surged to 20.1 million.
However, with fame comes controversies. Li Ziqi’s videos spawned numerous imitators, while she herself became a target for capital ventures and the Chinese ruling party, both aiming to profit from her popularity and use her as a tool for promoting their narratives. Her humble rural origins were exploited for economic and political gains.
Since the ownership dispute with “Hangzhou Weinian” arose in July 2021, Li Ziqi had refrained from uploading videos, with only a frenzy on Weibo on September 15 last year where Li Ziqi’s ad as the “Chinese Rural Youth Enrichment Leader Association Chinese Farmer Harvest Festival Ambassador” promoting agricultural culture went viral. Many netizens questioned her changed image, as her prolonged absence had seemingly altered her facial features, making her almost unrecognizable.
According to the latest report from Chinese media outlet “Tech Planet,” Li Ziqi has finally made a comeback after three years of hiatus, releasing two new works in quick succession with more content in the editing process. The report suggests that Li Ziqi’s hiatus was mainly due to disputes with “Weinian,” particularly concerning account ownership. In response to Li Ziqi’s return, “Weinian” stated that all disputes with Li Ziqi had been fully resolved, with no current content creation collaboration, but allowing exclusive long-term operating rights for the Li Ziqi brand in specific categories. Thus, the legal battles between the two parties have drawn to a close after numerous court confrontations.
The media also proclaimed, “Li Ziqi was once hailed as the top cultural export ambassador, with each video attracting countless overseas viewers, comments, shares, and likes. During her three-year hiatus, Li Ziqi’s overseas accounts not only retained followers but also gained an additional five million followers.”
Li Ziqi’s recent release swiftly propelled the hashtag “#LiZiqiReturns#” to the top of Weibo’s trending topics. Her case has brought to light to Chinese netizens the harsh business battles hidden behind internet celebrities and the subtle effects of “great overseas propaganda.”