In just ten days, three artists under Star48 have announced their departures, raising concerns about the agency’s internal conditions. On May 8, GNZ48’s Zheng Danni officially quit the group, bringing an end to her nine-year idol career with her agency. She cited long-term physical exhaustion due to high-intensity work and contractual restrictions that limited her professional growth. This comes after SNH48’s Wang Yi and Zhao Yue‘s recent departures.
Zheng Danni of Chinese idol group GNZ48 (short for Guangzhou48) has penned a long farewell letter to her fans. “This might be the last time we meet with me as an idol from the 48Group,” she wrote. “But please believe that when we meet again, it will be the beginning of a brand new chapter we write together.”
Debuting at 15, the young idol who’s now 24 years old recalls trembling with the mic in her hand, driven only by a fiery dream. She looks back on the road paved with both “starlight and thorns,” filled with competition, regret, and cherished memories. Zheng Danni spoke about her health struggles and the pressure to constantly prove herself. “I often worked until my stomach hurt… taking medicine reminded me I hadn’t eaten,” she said. “I thought working harder would win respect, but in the end, I caged my soul in contractual shackles.”
For Zheng Danni, fans’ simple reminders like “remember to eat well” gave her warmth and strength through difficult times, and she reveals it’s time to reclaim her freedom: “This isn’t running away—this is taking the courage you gave me to find a wider sky.” She asked fans not to feel sad, but to join her in looking forward: “Let’s keep going together. As long as even one person is willing to wait for me, I am not alone.”
Source: GNZ48-ZhengDanni-
HL
One of many pop idols wannabe who finally understand how harsh and real this industry is. In China, Cpop industry is still in its infant style.
HL
Typo: infant stage