20-year-old TNT member Yan Haoxiang was unexpectedly caught in a social media firestorm after a staffer from iQIYI’s The Rap of China 2025 used the show’s official Douyin account to post a comment on a video about the singer-rapper. The now-deleted comment claimed, “His fans are still lacking—likes are nowhere near Deng Dianguo’s level. Not impressive,” sparking immediate backlash from fans.
Yan Haoxiang is currently serving as star producer and mentor on The Rap of China 2025. Despite contributing significant traffic to the show, fans have complained that he has not been given matching screentime or promotion. The latest incident only added fuel to the fire, with many accusing the production team of disrespecting both the artist and his fandom.
iQIYI VP Issues Apology
On June 15, iQIYI vice president Chen Di (aka “San Tiao”) issued a public apology, taking responsibility for the incident. In a statement, he said: “This was an unfair, disrespectful, and inappropriate statement toward Mr. Yan Haoxiang, his hardworking team, and the viewers. I sincerely apologize.”
He added that the staffer responsible was an inexperienced intern but admitted that management loopholes allowed the comment to be posted unchecked. Chen promised to take three corrective actions: a written and in-person apology to Yan Haoxiang and his team, disciplinary measures including firing the staffer, and reforming their content approval process to avoid similar incidents.
Some of Yan’s fans welcomed the apology, but also worry that it’s yet another surface-level PR move. As some fans put it, they want real action. This is already the second apology from the show and they hope it’s the last. Others called for clear changes: stop malicious editing, ensure fair screen time and improve promotional efforts.
