On January 16th, Xie Na, a well-known host who has three daughters with mainland Chinese singer Zhang Jie, revealed on Weibo that their three children took turns being hospitalized for intravenous therapy. There were even three days when all three children needed IV drips at the same time. Xie Na shared a photo of herself tightly holding one of her daughter’s hands while receiving treatment, showing the children’s hands wrapped in bandages and tape during the procedure, which made many netizens feel sympathetic.
Xie Na and Zhang Jie have almost 7-year-old twin daughters named “Tiao Tiao” and “Qiao Qiao,” as well as a little over 3-year-old daughter named “Xiao Yu Ya.” Previously, Xie Na, who couldn’t bear to see her children getting shots, wrote on Weibo on the 16th, “During this time, the three children took turns staying in the hospital for IV treatment. There were even three days when all three children received IV therapy together. I would cry my heart out every time I left the room and then buy three small ice cream balls to encourage them with a smile.”
Emotionally overwhelmed, Xie Na also shared a photo of her daughter’s hand with an intravenous needle in it, the small hand wrapped in tape, a sight that would surely tug at anyone’s heartstrings. One can only imagine the immense challenge of caring for three sick children simultaneously. Many netizens sent blessings to the children and words of encouragement to Xie Na. Xie Na also expressed her thoughts, saying, “Being a mother is a process of constantly growing stronger! Let’s cheer on together, mothers! Hope all the children are healthy and well!”
Xie Na initially intended to share the heartache she felt as a mother when her children fell ill, along with the chaos and distress she experienced, but the post sparked some controversy online. Firstly, netizens questioned the whereabouts of Zhang Jie since Xie Na did not mention him in her posts. However, in a subsequent post, Xie Na revealed that Zhang Jie was currently holding a concert in Malaysia. Secondly, some netizens raised concerns about Xie Na mentioning ice cream, as they believed that when a child is feverish and weak, consuming ice cream could exacerbate their condition. Some netizens argued that as a mother, Xie Na surely consulted a doctor before deciding to give her children anything to eat.
Although Xie Na did not specify the reason for the children’s high fevers, information circulating on social media indicates that the flu virus is spreading rampantly across various regions of mainland China. Children’s hospitals are overcrowded, and the number of severe cases has noticeably increased, with some children even losing their lives due to this wave of the virus. However, the Chinese authorities have yet to disclose official figures on severe cases and deaths. Meanwhile, individuals including pediatricians and patients’ families are sharing information about severe cases and deaths on social media as a way of mutual support and awareness.
Residents from different regions of mainland China have reported cases of themselves, their relatives, or colleagues experiencing prolonged fevers and severe coughing for up to a month. Some suspect the resurfacing of the COVID-19 virus, while others believe that the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine are becoming more apparent as there have been reports of sudden deaths among young people and students. Parents are cautioning others, saying, “We must not take this situation lightly.”
Xie Na, who once hosted the variety show “Happy Camp” for over 20 years, is the first celebrity whose Weibo fan base has exceeded a hundred million followers. Her cheerful hosting style has stirred both controversy and brought happiness to viewers. In October 2021, the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Propaganda Department and National Radio and Television Administration summoned broadcasters from Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Hunan TV stations, criticizing those under the four stations for varying degrees of “excessive entertainment” and requiring a more politically oriented programming.
Against this backdrop, many television variety shows are facing regulatory changes. One of them is the show “Happy Camp,” hosted by He Jiong and Xie Na for over 20 years, which was suspended by the Hunan TV station citing the reason of “upgrading and renewal.” The former members of the “Happy Family” have since gone their separate ways, with some switching networks and others leaving the entertainment industry. Xie Na has been relatively idle for a while, although it has allowed her more time to be with her daughters, her professional career has suffered a significant setback.