Taiwanese pop singer and actor Nicky Wu faced immediate public backlash across Taiwan after publishing a video on the Chinese short-video platform Douyin on October 1 that showed him waving the Five-Star Red Flag in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, according to regional media reports. The digital controversy quickly impacted his scheduled public appearances in Taiwan, where internet users and sports fans petitioned against his planned role as an opening-pitch guest.
Fubon Guardians Cancel Opening-Pitch Appearance Amid Online Protests
The Fubon Guardians, a professional baseball team in the Chinese Professional Baseball League based in New Taipei City, Taiwan, faced a wave of online criticism after news of Wu’s Douyin video circulated. Wu had been invited to serve as the ceremonial opening-pitch guest for the team’s game scheduled for October 4. As discussions and critical comments multiplied across social media platforms, internet users demanded that the team remove Wu from the lineup, with some threatening stadium protests. In response, the Fubon Guardians issued a brief statement on October 2 announcing that Wu had canceled his scheduled appearance due to “personal physical discomfort,” offering no further explanation. Wu himself did not immediately issue a public statement regarding the cancellation.
Great Wall Video and Social Media Exchanges Draw Renewed Attention
On October 4—the exact day he was originally scheduled to appear at the Fubon Guardians game—Wu published a new video on social media documenting a visit to the Badaling Great Wall in Beijing. The footage showed him performing high-end physical stretches and demonstrating athletic movements, which regional media outlets interpreted as a direct counter-statement to the baseball team’s earlier explanation of physical illness. When a social media user commented that he should maintain his stance if he wished to continue commercial ventures, Wu replied that his position remained unchanged regardless of financial considerations. These interactions heightened media scrutiny across Taiwan, drawing sharp contrasts with concurrent political events in Taipei.
Contrasting Public Reactions Involving Celebrity Figures
The timing of Wu’s online activity coincided with a separate public appearance by television personality Kevin Tsai, who attended the campaign headquarters opening event for political figure Shen Po-yang in Taipei on October 4. Tsai’s presence in the front row of the guest section drew substantial attention and was subsequently shared across mainland social media platforms. Observers and internet commentators quickly contrasted Wu’s overt public display with Tsai’s attendance at the political event, fueling intense online debates regarding the public positioning of prominent cultural figures operating across both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
Background of Nicky Wu’s Career and Media Presence
Born in Taiwan, Wu rose to fame in 1988 as a member of the popular Mandopop idol group Little Tigers, where he was known as the “Thunder Tiger.” Following the group’s disbandment, he pursued a successful solo career in music and acting, achieving widespread recognition across Greater China for his portrayal of the Yongzheng Emperor in the 2011 historical television drama series Startling by Each Step. His recent social media activity began with the launch of his new short-video platform account on September 28, culminating in the October 1 Tiananmen Square video that recreated scenes from the Little Tigers’ historic visit to Beijing 35 years prior.
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