5201314 6,469 Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 by Cai Xuejiao http://www.sixthtone.com/news/1003492/nba-china-ad-featuring-male-singer-reignites-masculinity-debate A 20-year-old boy band member is at the center of yet another debate on masculinity after NBA China released a Lunar New Year promotional video featuring the pop idol. Cai Xukun, a singer with the group Nine Percent, has been called effeminate and not masculine enough by netizens arguing that his appearance and personality aren’t fit to be associated with a professional sports league. According to NBA China, Cai is the first Chinese star to ever be featured in an NBA promotional video celebrating the Lunar New Year holiday, or the Spring Festival. The 30-second clip, released Friday, also features big-name players Giannis Antetokounmpo, Klay Thompson, and Damian Lillard. The pop singer is the latest celebrity targeted for what many see as a deviation from traditional gender norms. Men’s earrings were blurred out in an online show that aired earlier this month, and state news agency Xinhua mocked the country’s androgynous and effeminate male idols as “sissy pants†in September, condemning the trend as a “sick culture†that negatively impacts teenagers. In an online poll conducted on Chinese sports forum Hupu, a majority of the 42,000-plus respondents dismissed Cai’s participation in the video as “garbage.†Meanwhile, on microblogging platform Weibo, Cai’s inclusion has been dubbed “terrible†and “a joke.†A hashtag translating to “Cai Xukun NBA New Year Celebration Ambassador†had been viewed over 160 million times by Thursday evening. But not everyone was outraged by Cai’s new athletic affiliation. Cai’s fans, like 23-year-old Zhang Chen, have said that their idol is a basketball enthusiast who could help the sport attract more female viewers in China — a major market for the NBA globally. “It’s annoying that some people are focused on his looks without really knowing him,†she told Sixth Tone on Wednesday. “There just isn’t enough tolerance.†NBA China declined to comment on the ongoing discussion when contacted by Sixth Tone on Wednesday. Beijing-based basketball commentator Yang Yi wrote in a Hupu post Wednesday that the NBA’s strategy is to use popular celebrities to attract new audiences and expand the game’s Chinese fan base. Last year’s NBA All-Star Celebrity Game — an annual exhibition game that includes both professional basketball players and people famous for other reasons — featured Chinese-Canadian singer Kris Wu. The game ultimately saw a 30 percent boost in female viewers, according to Wallstreetcn.com, a media outlet that reports on business and finance. “NBA China is expanding its audience to include female fans,†Yang said. “Women who didn’t watch basketball games before can now get to know the NBA through Cai Xukun.†Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKKY 6,735 Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 Another one. What a bunch of sensitive snowflakes. Talk about fragile masculinity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youmi 611 Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 He just appeared for a sec.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waycrispy1 3,434 Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 These are just loud noises from internet trolls who are mad that people like Luhan, Xukun, etc. are so successful and they could never. Why something like this is even becoming news, I will never understand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTS&TXT 8 Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 You know you're damn successful if you breathing for 5 seconds in a 30 second commercial has people triggered the hell over it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
singnotes 1,628 Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 He was there for a few seconds, wtf. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loonathehoe 4,579 Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 Talking about fragile masculinity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peperoni 18 Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 they are the equivalent of underground fatboys in Japan; but in Cai Xukun case it is extreme cause of the unbalanced ration of Chinese boys and Chinese girls; Chinese boys became more aggressive of popular guys. In my opinion; Cai Xukun didn't differ to other idol like Luhan and Kris Wu; he is juts younger and debuted in China so they are not yet used to it. Even TFBoys despite aging gracefully still looks like Young teenager and sometimes childish with their interaction. It just happened that good boys are preferred than bad boys in a conservative society Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JunChanHun 161 Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 Fragile masculinity isn't a good look, Cnetz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arrivederci 1,792 Posted January 29, 2019 Share Posted January 29, 2019 This and the Gillette ad controversy. Same energy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fsoul 6 Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 I do not blame chinese for their phobia against emasculating men , like for many years in chinese socity families desired sons over daughters but now suddenly their sons are gonna be effeminated , anyone would be scared . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zhang SING fan 292 Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 i have nothing against Xukun, but I'm wondering now that the NBA wanted to expand its market to female audience, why didn't they just invite Kris Wu or Luhan? Kris Wu played quite good basketball and was quite famous when he was in high school in Guangzhou, and Luhan also plays way better basketball than Xukun... They are equally popular amongst female fanbase and play better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveKa 6,169 Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 i have nothing against Xukun, but I'm wondering now that the NBA wanted to expand its market to female audience, why didn't they just invite Kris Wu or Luhan? Kris Wu played quite good basketball and was quite famous when he was in high school in Guangzhou, and Luhan also plays way better basketball than Xukun... They are equally popular amongst female fanbase and play better When you start like that, you know it's not going to end well XD So legit & genuine question, how do you know Luhan & Kris are better in basketball than Cai Xukun? Did they play against each other for you to judge or it's just your assumptions ? I mean, Xukun was also a basket team member in his High school when he studied in the States & was good at it so where do you get that ? Obviously I won't say he's better than Kris or Luhan because they're really good and I really don't care tbh BUT the way you make it sounds like it's a fact & thus shouldn't have been the one to be part of this NBA campaign Anyway, this being said, seeing his impact for merely breathing, he's a good pick since he got talked & haters pressed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zhang SING fan 292 Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 When you start like that, you know it's not going to end well XD So legit & genuine question, how do you know Luhan & Kris are better in basketball than Cai Xukun? Did they play against each other for you to judge or it's just your assumptions ? I mean, Xukun was also a basket team member in his High school when he studied in the States & was good at it so where do you get that ? Obviously I won't say he's better than Kris or Luhan because they're really good and I really don't care tbh BUT the way you make it sounds like it's a fact & thus shouldn't have been the one to be part of this NBA campaign Anyway, this being said, seeing his impact for merely breathing, he's a good pick since he got talked & haters pressed Yeah I know when someone starts like "I have nothing against..." usually means "I'm a big hater of his/hers" but I don't think I'm that type of person, like I don't understand why some people would hate artists that's thousands of miles away from you like they genuinely did something really bad to you. It's just not my thing. They haven't competed with each other yet, but I did watch their clips of playing basketball. Sometimes you know, just like singing, you don't need to listen to the whole song to judge "oh this dude can/can't sing", 10 seconds and you probably know something. Same goes with basketball, you don't need to watch them actually playing against each other to see who's better, you just need to watch some clips. This is clips of them playing basketball What I meant was that I understood the NBA wanted to broaden their market to females, so they chose a pop idol. Xukun was great but from my perspective Kris or Luhan might be a better option because of their higher basketball levels. It was not that I hate Xukun or something Also I hate those people who're rude to pop idols just for the sake of it, it doesn't make them feel any better. Looks like they can't deal with problems in real life so that they can only bash online Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveKa 6,169 Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 Yeah I know when someone starts like "I have nothing against..." usually means "I'm a big hater of his/hers" but I don't think I'm that type of person, like I don't understand why some people would hate artists that's thousands of miles away from you like they genuinely did something really bad to you. It's just not my thing. They haven't competed with each other yet, but I did watch their clips of playing basketball. Sometimes you know, just like singing, you don't need to listen to the whole song to judge "oh this dude can/can't sing", 10 seconds and you probably know something. Same goes with basketball, you don't need to watch them actually playing against each other to see who's better, you just need to watch some clips. This is clips of them playing basketball What I meant was that I understood the NBA wanted to broaden their market to females, so they chose a pop idol. Xukun was great but from my perspective Kris or Luhan might be a better option because of their higher basketball levels. It was not that I hate Xukun or something Also I hate those people who're rude to pop idols just for the sake of it, it doesn't make them feel any better. Looks like they can't deal with problems in real life so that they can only bash online I'm not assuming that you hate CXK & I totally get your point actually. Still I think the NBA marketing team wasn't looking for the best basketball player among idol/singer/star for their ads, more like a trending one who's good at it. He's not at the level of Kris & Luhan popular wise (YET ) and I can't watch your vids rn to compare their skills but Xukun is a fresh face so I think NBA did a good job choosing him anyway. It's more about the target audience that their basketball skills Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zhang SING fan 292 Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 I'm not assuming that you hate CXK & I totally get your point actually. Still I think the NBA marketing team wasn't looking for the best basketball player among idol/singer/star for their ads, more like a trending one who's good at it. He's not at the level of Kris & Luhan popular wise (YET ) and I can't watch your vids rn to compare their skills but Xukun is a fresh face so I think NBA did a good job choosing him anyway. It's more about the target audience that their basketball skills Thanks for understanding!! The NBA wants to promote itself to a broader market, so Xukun as a newly rising star is a good option, from a business perspective More girls can get to know the NBA due to him, I think this is what they wants to see Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capital 855 Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 Yeah, the kind of loser!basement-dweller who thinks Stephen Curry is a wuss for having a happy married life. Begone! Xukun is a good choice for the ad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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