Armies of fans showed support for their favorite celebrities by buying milk – and then dumping it. Netizens were left boiling after viewers of vote-in reality show Youth With You reportedly purchased large quantities of Mengniu-brand milk, the show’s sponsor, solely for the promotional QR codes printed on the bottle caps that allowed them to cast votes for their favorite star.
By
NewsChina
Updated Jul.1
Armies of fans showed support for their favorite celebrities by buying milk – and then dumping it. Netizens were left boiling after viewers of vote-in reality show Youth With You reportedly purchased large quantities of Mengniu-brand milk, the show’s sponsor, solely for the promotional QR codes printed on the bottle caps that allowed them to cast votes for their favorite star. Now in its third season on streaming platform iQIYI, the show has viewers vote for nine of around 100 contestants to form a pop super group. Netizens criticized the waste and accused iQIYI and Mengniu for encouraging the behavior. Authorities have since suspended the reality show and Mengniu has issued an apology and promised to recall products packaged for the promotion. Following the news, China’s cyberspace administration published a statement pledging to launch a campaign against any act that encourages the worship of celebrities.