Jackson Yee’s On‑Stage Joke Sparks a Nationwide Meme, Signaling a New Era of Chinese Celebrity Influence

The phrase in Mandarin, “避雷易烊千玺同款吃的都沉默了,” roughly translates to “Avoid Jackson Yee’s recommended food and everyone goes quiet.” It is a tongue‑in‑cheek warning that began when Yee told the audience that a friend of his had recently recommended a restaurant he loved, only to discover an online comment saying, “避雷易烊千玺同款” – “avoid the same thing Jackson Yee recommends.” Onstage, Yee responded with a wry grin, “Avoid my picks? I’ll avoid you too!” The brief exchange sparked a cascade of jokes, memes, and a flurry of hashtags that have kept Chinese netizens laughing for weeks.

Fans quickly latched onto the irony. On Weibo, China’s Twitter‑like platform, the core phrase was paired with a slew of playful tags such as #易烊千玺去哪里进修脱口秀了# (“Where did Jackson Yee go to study stand‑up comedy?”) and #易烊千玺被粉丝的尖叫声吓到了# (“Jackson Yee scared by fans’ screams”). Another favorite was #风吹起易烊千玺衣摆这一幕# (“The moment the wind blew Jackson Yee’s clothes”). The seemingly mundane anecdote was elevated into a miniature cultural event, one that highlighted not only Yee’s star power but also his willingness to laugh at himself.

The meme’s genesis is unmistakably light‑hearted. There is no evidence of a scandal, a failed endorsement or any genuine backlash against the artist. Instead, the “avoid” warning serves as a playful self‑deprecating punchline—an invitation for fans to join the celebrity in a shared joke. As one observer noted, “Jackson Yee’s ability to turn a off‑hand comment into a viral laugh shows how modern idols can bend the line between promotion and parody.”

Beyond the chuckles, however, the episode offers a glimpse into shifting patterns of celebrity influence in China. For years, megastar endorsements have been a cornerstone of marketing strategy, with brands banking on the star’s fanbase to drive sales. Yee’s own career—starting as a member of the hugely popular boy band TF BOYS, then branching into acting, solo music and even fashion—has been a textbook case of that phenomenon. Yet the “避雷” meme reminds marketers that even the most beloved idols cannot dictate consumer taste in every arena, especially when it comes to subjective experiences like dining.

In the age of high‑speed internet, word of mouth—positive or negative—carries a weight that can eclipse a celebrity’s promotional clout. The very comment that sparked Yee’s onstage quip originated from an ordinary user warning others about a personal disappointment with the star’s recommendation. That a single line could ripple through millions of followers illustrates the power of user‑generated content. It also underscores a burgeoning consumer discernment: people are increasingly turning to peer reviews, detailed blogs and personal anecdotes rather than accepting an endorsement at face value.

Yee’s response to the teasing also demonstrates a savvy grasp of modern public‑relations dynamics. In Chinese culture, preserving “face”—the social standing one projects to the world—is paramount. An outright defensive reply could have sounded tone‑deaf, perhaps even alienating the very fanbase he was courting. By embracing the joke, he reinforced an image of relatability and humility, qualities that resonate deeply with a younger generation tired of polished, untouchable idols. As cultural commentator Li Wei put it, “When a star can laugh at himself, the audience feels invited into his world rather than kept at arm’s length.”

The ripple effect of the meme has also been felt inside the fan community. The hashtag debating whether Yee should “study stand‑up comedy” has spurred a wave of fan‑made videos mimicking his comedic timing, while posts about his attempts to learn Shanghai dialect—only to discover that most concertgoers were from elsewhere—add another layer of endearing irony. Fans are not only consuming content; they are actively co‑creating it, forging a participatory culture that blurs the line between celebrity and audience.

From a broader perspective, the “avoid my food picks” meme may herald a subtle demythologizing of celebrity culture in China. The idol’s tastes are no longer untouchable edicts; they’re the subject of playful scrutiny. This reflects a larger societal shift toward authenticity over pure commercialism. As consumers grow more sophisticated, they demand genuine experiences and are less willing to accept blanket endorsements without question. Brands, in turn, may need to lean into nuanced, data‑driven influencer strategies—pairing celebrities with products that genuinely align with their personal preferences and the sensibility of their followers.

Nevertheless, the core of the story remains delightfully simple: a pop star shared a funny anecdote, fans amplified it, and the internet turned a moment of self‑deprecation into a cultural touchstone. In the grand tapestry of celebrity news, it is a reminder that sometimes the most compelling narratives are not those of controversy or scandal, but those that capture a shared laugh in an ever‑connected world.

Jackson Yee’s Beijing concert may have ended, but the echo of his joke continues to reverberate across screens and timelines, a testament to how a single line—“Avoid my picks, and everyone goes silent”—can transform a fleeting onstage quip into a lasting piece of digital folklore.