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Chinese pop star Huang Zitao, known for his vibrant personality and ability to attract fans through engaging livestreams, found himself at the center of controversy after a car giveaway that many perceived as deceptive. The incident caused him to lose over 3 million followers within two days, leaving Huang "heartbroken and disappointed."
On December 24, Huang Zitao made an ambitious promise during a livestream: if his fan count reached 15 million, he would randomly select 10 lucky fans to receive a Chinese-made electric car. He reassured fans that they could choose any available model or color in the livestream catalog, provided they gave him time to arrange the giveaway.
Excited fans rallied behind the announcement, flooding his comment section with good wishes for Huang and his new wife, Xu Yiyang, and requesting Xiaomi vehicles. Huang’s fan base skyrocketed from 13 million to over 45 million in a short period.
On January 10, Huang followed through on his promise by hosting another livestream to announce the winners and distribute the promised cars. Attracting an audience of 9.6 million viewers, the event showcased a vibrant mix of expensive virtual gifts and intense competition. However, the excitement quickly turned sour.
Instead of the Xiaomi cars many fans expected, Huang presented 30 winners with Baojun Cloud electric cars - an affordable alternative with a more modest reputation. To make matters worse, the vehicles came with a significant caveat: the winners would only receive a five-year usage right. After that, the cars would need to be returned to the manufacturer based on its terms.
Fans were disappointed and felt misled. Many took to social media to express their frustration, accusing Huang of not delivering on his initial promise. The fallout was swift and dramatic - his follower count dropped by over 3 million within two days, with the decline continuing.
Addressing the controversy, Huang expressed his sadness during a subsequent livestream. "If everyone unfollows me just because they didn’t win, I will feel very hurt and disappointed," he said. He added that the experience of gaining immense popularity only to see it rapidly diminish was emotionally distressing.
Reactions from netizens were polarized. Some criticized Huang for what they saw as a bait-and-switch tactic. “The switch from Xiaomi to Baojun, and the limited five-year use, feels like a joke,” one user commented. Others argued that the giveaway was a calculated marketing ploy to boost both Huang’s and Baojun’s visibility. “Huang gained millions of followers and raked in revenue from the livestream gifts. The cars he gave away barely made a dent in comparison,” another netizen wrote.
Supporters of Huang defended him, pointing out that Chinese laws cap the value of lottery prizes to 50,000 yuan, which made offering permanent ownership of a car impossible. “He never explicitly said it would be Xiaomi cars,” one fan noted, adding, “People should be grateful he’s giving away cars at all.”
Some critics suggested that the entire giveaway was a publicity stunt designed to increase livestream traffic and boost sales. They speculated that Huang received marketing fees from Baojun for promoting their vehicles, effectively turning the giveaway into a profitable venture.
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