Pop Star Sparks Discussions on Workplace Abuse

A Weibo post with an audio recording by idol rapper Yamy has sparked a widespread discussion about workplace harassment in China. Yamy, who rose to fame on competition shows Rap of China and Produce 101, debuted as part of the idol group Rocket Girls in 2018. Last week, she took to social media to post audio of her boss Xu Mingchao speaking about her in derogatory terms.

In the three-minute recording of a company meeting led by Xu, the CEO of JC Universe Entertainment, the talent agency figure can be heard saying, “Ask me if Yamy is pretty. Ask me! She is ugly. Extremely ugly. Is there anyone who can’t agree with this fact?” Xu then continues to criticize Yamy’s appearance, clothing, and singing ability, asking members of the staff to agree with him. 

After Yamy’s post, the hashtag #workplacePUA reached over 590 million hits on Weibo, with people denouncing Xu’s actions and sharing their own experiences with abusive employers.

The term “PUA,” which stands for “pickup artist,” was originally used to describe men who put a lot of (read: too much) effort into picking up women. However, Chinese netizens repurposed the term to refer to any sort of emotional abuse or manipulation of social dynamics at work, in relationships, or elsewhere.

Since the beginning of China’s #MeToo movement in 2018, Weibo movements like this have been key places for public discussions about sexual assault, harassment, and abuse. This discussion about workplace PUA comes after China’s first sexual harassment case was won in court earlier this month.

Hit Read More for more on this story, including Xu's response.

Cover image from Weibo user 重过南楼

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