Xie Na: The Chinese Internet was so outraged by a celebrity’s ‘bad’ song, her concert was cancelled

Fame can make or break a career in show business. But even a large number of loyal fans wasn’t enough to stop the internet’s fury for a celebrity in China.

Xie Na, one of the most recognizable faces on Chinese television, learned this when she recently attempted to embark on a national concert tour in disgrace.

The first leg of the tour, which was due to start in Beijing later this month, was abruptly canceled over the weekend, after her singing skills were mocked and questioned online – and even by state media.

It’s the latest reminder of the problems celebrities face navigating China’s entertainment scene, which observers say has become an outlet for young people’s social and economic frustrations.

For two decades, Xie was a main member of Happy Camp, the popular variety show. Initially known for small roles in dramas, her flamboyant personality and comedic chops soon earned her recognition as one of China’s top television characters.

But she kept her dream of becoming a singer for a long time. “This year, I finally have the chance to fulfill this dream seriously,” she wrote on the social media site Weibo in April, announcing that she would be holding solo concerts in Chengdu, a brutal city in the southwest.

Days later, when thousands of tickets went on sale, they were immediately snapped up, surprising even Xie. “My hands are shaking,” she posted on Weibo eight minutes after the tickets went on sale.

The two concerts in Chengdu in May were warmly received by fans, with nostalgic performances featuring Xie’s famous friends.

After the event, her confidence increased. She expressed disbelief in her own singing ability on live broadcasts. “In the end, I’m not even out of breath,” she said of the would-be “Queen of Pop.”

“Do you think I could take a tour?” she asked her audience.