On August 26th, in the evening, Time Fengjun Entertainment, the Chinese agency responsible for the well-known boy band TFBoys, successfully announced the third-generation members of the TF Clan. This model prioritizes the selection, preparation, and debut of teenage groups. The first batch of members, Wang Junkai, Wang Yuan, and Yi Yangqianxi, also known as the “Golden Boys,”became famous throughout Asia.
The third generation of the TF Clan, known as T.O.P (Top Of Planet), has recently been revealed to include six talented members: Xia Hang, Su Xinhao, Zhang Ji, Zhang Zheyu, Zhu Zhihan, and Yu Yuhan, all of whom are teenagers.
The inaugural event of T.O.P attracted a significant amount of interest from Chinese entertainment enthusiasts, as the hashtag “TF Gen 3 Debut”swiftly rose to the top spot on social media in China. Noteworthy was T.O.P’s emergence as a highly discussed subject, as they made a promise to refrain from dating or engaging in private relationships with their fans.
The group’s pledge encompassed a commitment to not let down their initial aspirations, to remain loyal to the company’s unwavering backing, and to fulfill the hopes and backing of their fans. They vowed to stand by the group through its growth, viewing their fellow members not only as colleagues but also as integral family members. They promised to abide by strict rules for idols, both towards themselves and their fans, which included refraining from dating and maintaining a professional relationship with any close fans.
As a “training”group, where fans have supported the trainees since a young age, dating is strongly frowned upon. Numerous idols have experienced a decline in their careers due to dating rumors. Therefore, T.O.P’s promise is viewed as a calculated strategy to gain the support of fans.
Nevertheless, the no-dating rule enforced by the agency has sparked controversy among neutral fans, as it is deemed overly strict and invades the personal privacy of celebrities. The agency has faced backlash for imposing such expectations on young idols.
Despite facing backlash for “deceiving debut slots,”Time Entertainment continued to receive criticism as it was revealed that trainees were promised 8 debut spots but only 6 were ultimately given. During the live show where the final lineup was announced, trainee Mu Zhicheng expressed frustration and was cut off by the program. However, netizens were able to interpret his gestures and lip movements, questioning why only 6 members were chosen.
According to reports, Mu Zhicheng, who had been under training at Time Fengjun Entertainment for 9 years, suffered mistreatment and was deceived regarding his debut opportunity. The news caused uproar among fans of the trainees who were not chosen to debut, with some even fainting and requiring emergency medical treatment due to their emotional distress. This incident has caused a major controversy on Chinese online forums.
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