China ponders the humans behind “virtual idols”
Should they have more rights?
Whether it’s for marketing or entertainment, hiring a real-life celebrity is expensive and carries risks. Several Chinese stars have been caught up in scandals recently. Some get into trouble for being out of step with the Communist Party. The party, for its part, has attacked fan culture, banning online rankings of celebrities. It wants public figures to be upstanding role models. Little wonder, then, that many Chinese firms are choosing to work with “virtual idols” instead of the human kind.
This article appeared in the China section of the print edition under the headline “Real problems”
China June 18th 2022
From the June 18th 2022 edition
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