A Weibo user with the ID "Anti-Simp Bureau Director" uploaded a covertly filmed clip titled "The Death of Chinese Entertainment: How Low is the Bar for Singers Now?"
"Got selected as an audience member for the latest episode of I Am a Singer. Honestly, Fei Fei's vocals were decent, Dictionary Uncle's skills were YYDS, and Ying Ying's tone was lovely—but someone was clearly there as a joke. This level isn't even 'KTV king' material; my teenage nephew sings better. Whatever, I won't elaborate. See for yourselves. #EntertainmentIndustryStandards #Someone'sVocals "
What defines emotional singing? A voice that tells a story, draws listeners in, and carries texture—all of which require coherence. Otherwise, it's just noise.
Unsurprisingly, "Anti-Simp Bureau Director" was a sock puppet account operated by Mango TV. The leaked footage was meticulously edited to stitch together only Chu Zhi's off-key and cracked notes, deliberately omitting any complete lines. The result? A hilariously disastrous performance.
With the help of paid trolls, the hashtags #EntertainmentIndustryStandards and #Someone'sVocals rocketed to trending status by afternoon. Classic Weibo—half the "news" you see is just what someone wants you to see.
Comments Section:
SillyGoose666: "Holy Pangu, Donghuang Taiyi, and Yamcha—I knew Steel Wool Ball's singing was bad, but this bad?!"
SilentMoMo: "As a 3-year 'fan' of Trash Chu, this is his real level. His 'Wind Blows the Wheat' was a fluke."
QinHanTangSongYuan: "@Anti-SimpBureauDirector Who's the surprise guest? Betting with a friend—if it's Yao Wen, she'll be my GF! Spill!"
Reply: "Can't reveal before broadcast~"
GoldenPalace: "Relax, Mango TV's 'million-dollar editing' will fix it. What we see vs. hear are two different things."
DrunkDreamScholar: "This needs a 'billion-dollar tuner.' Reminds me of a joke: A fish restaurant owner said their signature dishes were decent… except the 'Leyu' (cod). Why? Because 'Leyu wan le' (the cod's done/entertainment's doomed)!"
The replies were a mix of mockery and puns, all roasting the tone-deaf, cracked, amateur-hour vocals.
Clickbait Articles Join In:
"Foreigners Stunned, Locals Weeping: Is This What Passes for a Singer Now?"
"I Am a Singer? More Like I Am a Celebrity."
"Finally Understand Why Modern Music Sucks."
The outrage spread from Weibo (T0 speed) to Douban/Zhihu (T1), then to Bilibili (T2). Though slower on B station, several UP's hopped on the trend—including "STEM Overlord Wannabe", whose video "A Rational Analysis of Ex-Top Star Chu Zhi's Vocal Skills" stood out.
The "STEM Overlord" Breakdown
Vocal Techniques 101:
—Strong Mixed Voice (chest-dominant): For power notes (e.g., Dictionary Uncle's piercing highs).
—Weak Mixed Voice (head-dominant): For emotive ballads—subtle but textured.
—Balanced Mixed Voice: The standard. Adds depth; separates "pros" from "flat, white-noise amateurs."
Chu Zhi's Track Record:
—2020 Variety Show: No proper resonance placement. Wide range but zero control.
—2021 Concert: Regressed. Muddy tail notes, forced faux-bass (like cringe "fake-deep" TikTok voices), and breathlessness. Sloppy pitch.
—Wind Blows the Wheat: Attempted head-mix (awkward but improved). Breath support better, less artifice. Still not pro-level.
The Leaked Clip:
"Too fragmented to judge fairly, but given his history—same old issues: unstable breath, no resonance (hence 'dry' tone), throat screaming → cracks inevitable."
Verdict: "Not a singer. Can't even clear the technical bar, let alone 'emotional delivery.'"
But— The humming in Wind Blows the Wheat? "God-tier. No, autotune can't fake that. Pure talent."
The video hit Bilibili's front page. Meme/edit UP's sharpened their knives—Chu Zhi was prime material for ridicule.
Gen Z and millennials express disdain or love through memes. Here, the choice was obvious.
No one questioned the "Anti-Simp Bureau" account's legitimacy. Why bother? The real focus was Chu Zhi as the symbol of China's entertainment decay—the unskilled little fresh meat plaguing music and film.
With no fandom to defend him, the internet unleashed years of pent-up frustration. Thankfully, Chu Zhi's Weibo comments were disabled—or his ancestors would've been dug up and cursed ten generations back.