When China's massive fan-economy goes wrong

Extreme fan behavior creates a minefield for stars -- and the brands they sell

20200507 untamed screenshot

Xiao Zhan shot to startdom thanks to his role in the hit streaming show "The Untamed." (Screen shot from "The Untamed")

MARRIAN ZHOU, Nikkei staff writer

NEW YORK -- Right up to the time when China began putting cities under lockdown to combat the coronavirus outbreak, Xiao Zhan was the country's most sought-after star, endorsing everything from skin care products to beer. By the time the country lifted the shutters months later, Xiao's celebrity status was in tatters and his commercial power hanging by a thread.

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