Chinese K-pop idol Zhang Yixing, also known as Lay, has drawn mixed reactions after expressing support for Hong Kong police amid ongoing protests in the city.
Earlier this week, the 27-year-old artist terminated his contract with Samsung Electronics after determining that the South Korean tech giant does not adhere to the “One China” policy.
The announcement, which came from his studio, was posted Tuesday on Weibo. “Samsung Electronics, which Lay is a model for, has unclear definitions of country and region on its official global site,” the statement said, according to Soompi.
It added, “The act of being ambiguous about the integrity of our sovereignty and territory has severely hurt the national feelings of Chinese compatriots. We express our regret and state that we cannot tolerate this.”
Lay announces the termination of his contract with Samsung. Image via Weibo / 张艺兴工作室
The next day, the only remaining Chinese member of EXO declared his support for the Hong Kong police, who have been accused of using excessive force to control activists.
“Believe in the country, oppose violence, hope for peace in Hong Kong, China,” Lay wrote in a tweet, including a text photo from the Chinese state-run People’s Daily that reads, “I support Hong Kong’s police, you can beat me up now” and “What a shame for Hong Kong.”
Ahead of his breakup with Samsung, Lay, who is also a model for Calvin Klein, warned the American company after it listed Hong Kong and Taiwan as “different regions” on its website, the South China Morning Post reported.
The artist’s support for Hong Kong police has since gone viral with more than 82,000 likes and 49,000 comments — many from fans who vowed to stand by his side.
let’s See why So many Chinese idol need to say something for this situation. Yixing，You’re right. pic.twitter.com/QpgYSCxULJ
Hong Kong is part of China . The first party to provoke is rioters ，You glorify the violence by pursuing freedom, while the police just maintain the normal order in HK! You know nothing about Chinese history and all the conflicts happening right now。 pic.twitter.com/WE0QiScm1l
your did what you can to protect your fans baby.stay strong.everythings gonna be fine.take care
你应该得到最好的一切。
(you deserve the best of everything)
我会永远支持你。
(i’ll always be here for you)
美如你的脸是你的心。
(your heart is as beautiful as your face)@layzhang
— baek’s moon♡ only for exo (@baeksmoon4exo) August 14, 2019
I support Lay and I’ll always stand beside him,beside my country.Hongkong is a part of China,and Lay is a Chinese.He just did what he should do,there is nothing wrong with him.We all konw that Lay is a very kind person,he just don’t want to see Hongkong destroyed by violence.
However, others expressed disappointment for his position on the matter, with some pointing out that those who continue to support him are doing so blindly.
STOP blindly supporting your faves. This is why the pro-China and ‘support HK police’ campaigns on social media are problematic: it’s a way for China to 1) spread their nationalist propaganda and 2) paint the protesters in HK as ‘rioters’ and even ‘terrorists’ when they are NOT.
I dun know how everyone feel but as I hker I could say I feel it disrespectful and unacceptable for Lay’s act and these fans supporting him blindly. U all say he was force to post this right? Maybe he was force to post in weibo but who force him to post this on Ig and Twitter?
Ikr, my grandparents and cousins still live in hong kong, and my mom is very worried. She translated lay’s message for me and I am disappointed that he supports China rather than Hong Kong. China is corrupt.
oh and then there’s lay….. who took his sweet time to post other social medias like twitter and instagram going on about how he was disappointed in hong kong protesters so it’s safe to say he wasn’t forced to do anything and is the reason why exo will remain a flop
I am wondering if you posted this on your volition or if it was a requirement. Either way, it is sad that folks are trying to fight for their freedom, and you’re using your celebrity influence to impede that. https://t.co/LWb47xrNHP
Sorry, as a Hong Kong EXO-L, I can’t understand you, I am so disappointed in you. I know that maybe you are forced to post this, but the actions you did today are totally let us disappointed and heart broken.
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