Angela Zhang Photo: Courtesy of Mango TV

Singer and actress Angela Zhang, born in Taiwan island, criticized media on the island on Thursday after they claimed that she hadn't returned to the island for a concert for seven years and had no interaction with fans. Zhang responded on social media stating that "unscrupulous media are an eternal nightmare" and questioning the so-called neutral, objective, and rational spirit that the media prides itself on.

This incident quickly became a hot topic on Sina Weibo on Thursday evening.

Taiwan-based media NOWNEWS reported on Thursday that 43-year-old Zhang has shifted the focus of her showbiz career to the Chinese mainland in recent years and has not held a concert in Taiwan for seven years. 

A few days ago, when she returned to Taiwan island for a vacation, she was followed and photographed by paparazzi. The media described her as "putting on a poker face" and having "zero interaction" with fans who came to see her off at the airport, said the report.

Another media in Taiwan island, Next Apple News, uploaded photos of Zhang on Tuesday, posting on Facebook that she returned to Taiwan island "with a cold expression and no words." The post highlighted that she hasn't held a concert in her hometown for seven years and had zero interaction with loyal fans who came to see her off at the airport.

In response, Zhang quoted the post from Next Apple News on Facebook, asking, "Is this what you call continuous innovation? Maintaining neutrality? The rational and objective spirit of Next Apple News? How amusing! Do you really understand the relationship between me and my fans?"

She added, "Thank you for reminding me that you unscrupulous media are my nightmare. It's not that I refuse to return to Taiwan for concerts. I fear that if I hold a new tour titled 'Seeking For Light,' you won't understand it because you can never see the light! One day you will see the light again! I hope your publication can truly achieve its slogan: continue innovating, maintain neutrality, be rational and objective."

Previously, Zhang has expressed multiple times that she is Chinese, which has resulted in attacks from certain media outlets in Taiwan island.

According to the self-introduction on the Facebook page of Next Apple News, it was created by former employees of the Apple Daily. Previously, Xinhua News Agency's commentary stated that the Apple Daily had long engaged in acts that harmed the country and destabilized Hong Kong, highlighting the media's anti-China stance.

In the comment section, many fans were sympathetic, with some saying, "Don't pay attention to those who make random speculations and maliciously attack you."

On China's Sina Weibo, many netizens also left comments supporting Zhang such as "Don't worry, sis! You have hundreds of millions of compatriots supporting you behind your back!"

Global Times