kiwanis-nylisc Chapter 544: Official Rectification! Rongding Media Collapses!
Chapter 544: Official Rectification! Rongding Media Collapses!
A few days ago, right when Xiao He was engrossed in his "handcrafted modifications," a piece of news exploded onto the scene, disseminated jointly by major news outlets—[Exposure of Rongding Media's Black Industry]
[Rongding Media, A Living Hell]
[Shocking! A Certain Media Company Transforms into a "Dark Prison"]
[Horrifying! The Deep Web Abyss Behind the Glamour of Internet Celebrities]
[Madness Driven by Huge Profits! Media Company Crosses into Black Industry, How Will Future Internet Industry Development Rules Be Perfected?]
In the video, the female host presenting this news appeared solemn and dignified, her expression serious. The blue and white text at the bottom of the screen was even more glaring than red and black. The scrolling ticker at the very bottom rapidly displayed on-site reports that couldn't be fully covered in the news footage. Those words pieced together were utterly horrifying—
"After multiple investigations and verifications by our reporters, the media company in question used 'star-making contracts' as a front to construct a complete black industry chain covering 'performance exploitation—cosmetic loan harvesting—flesh trade—obscene live streaming'…"
"The company not only took a commission rate as high as 90%, but also frequently threatened its contracted artists with phrases like 'breach of contract penalties of millions' to force them to participate in various banquet events and arrange paid sexual transactions… Another streamer revealed that the company separately built an encrypted live streaming platform, diverting female streamers to perform vulgar and pornographic acts, attracting fans to transfer money and send gifts across platforms…"
"Currently, the office locations of the company involved have been sealed off, and five key persons in charge have been subjected to criminal coercive measures… The police stated they have already obtained multiple pieces of evidence of the company's illegal and criminal activities, are focusing on investigating the company's core management personnel and upstream/downstream related individuals, and simultaneously call for more victims to proactively report the case and cooperate with the investigation and evidence collection."
"This incident exposes regulatory loopholes in certain areas of the internet celebrity industry. Multiple departments including the Cyberspace Administration and Public Security have jointly launched a special industry rectification campaign… Faced with internet recruitment information promising 'low barriers and high income,' one must be highly vigilant. Before signing any contract, be sure to verify the company's qualifications, refuse to sign unequal contracts. If encountering infringement or illegal/criminal activities, report to the police promptly…"
When this news broke, all the major short video platforms exploded.
Many people had already deduced from the mosaics which company was involved in the news. They logged onto various short video platforms, checking the accounts of the internet celebrities on these platforms one by one, only to be shocked to discover these accounts were now all indefinitely suspended, with no fixed date for reinstatement.
In other words, what the news said about some of the artists being both victims and perpetrators was true!
Many people gasped in shock.
[Oh my god, a huge blogger like Guoguo, suspended just like that! Wasn't he one of the earliest streamers to reach the ten-million-follower level?]
[Are you kidding? This matter is so serious. Even before the authorities above stepped in, the platforms quickly sacrificed the pawns to save the king. You think this is a joke?]
[So did Guoguo and the others participate too?]
[Probably? I suggest everyone go check the official news account that released this. The news content there is even more detailed, even including undercover on-site videos. This reporter is especially amazing; he exposed a lot of things before. There are also many victim testimonies. Reading them is truly hair-raising.]
[Damn! It's actually that reporter who exposed the counterfeit drugs before! I remember after that news broke last time, the authorities above directly started rectifying the pharmaceutical industry. Now he's exposing the chaos in the internet celebrity company industry. I feel like this wind is going to blow into the internet celebrity circle.]
[It probably already has! Didn't you see the news said at the end that a special rectification has already been launched? I think they're probably going to get serious for real this time.]
[After reading it, I'm really a bit scared in hindsight. Rongding was truly a major company domestically, incubating many mega-internet celebrities with tens of millions of followers. Some of them even earned money more terrifying than domestic entertainment industry stars. I used to think about joining this company to make my mark, but… I never expected this outcome.]
[Never join an MCN agency casually! Some are really scummy! Unless you're doing group streaming, if you're just creating and producing content yourself, try to do it independently. Otherwise, when the time comes, the account isn't yours, the content isn't yours, the money definitely isn't yours, and you'll have nowhere to cry.]
…
Rongding Media was, after all, a famously prominent major company in the industry, with numerous internet celebrity artists under its wing and a massive fanbase. Some of its internet celebrities even had widespread recognition among young people, practically having one foot in the entertainment circle. So this large-scale suspension of Rongding Media's artists truly stunned many people.
Netizens also developed immense enthusiasm for discussing this matter, with their presence in discussions visible on almost every platform.
While netizens were heatedly discussing this, some netizens discovered another interesting point.
[So, when "Public Enemy Number One" was suddenly taken down, was it because Brother Xiao and the others heard some rumors? I always wondered why a perfectly good variety show was suddenly taken down. Turns out it was a protective move.]
[Very likely. And look, all their accounts have been suspended. If "Public Enemy Number One" were still airing now, with so many of those people appearing in it, the entire show would probably have been directly suspended, with no chance of being revived. By taking it down themselves now, they preserved the show. Later, they can re-edit to cut those people out and re-release it.]
[Yes, actually, "Public Enemy Number One" reacted really quickly. They probably had internal information. A Rongding Media internet celebrity went to a singing competition show on another channel and also made it to the finals. Now that this matter broke, that entire show directly suspended broadcasting for rectification. The announcement is already posted. Who knows if it can be released again.]
[Damn, that makes so much sense! I just checked. Several of Rongding Media's top streamers participated in the recording of "Public Enemy Number One," especially that Guoguo. He was at the very threshold of winning the championship, just falling short by a little in the final vote. Looking at it now, I don't know if this show was lucky or unlucky. Encountering these toxic elements forced it to be taken down to save itself. But fortunately, they weren't the champion, otherwise the show would really have ended up with a "mosaic" champion.]
[Haha, 'mosaic' champion contestant, that's hilarious! I'm actually dying of laughter. Why do I feel a bit of regret? I'd really like to see how the production team would edit the final video if the champion also had a reputation collapse.]
[That's so evil, but I'm also a bit looking forward to it.]
Am I the only one thinking about another thing? Young Master Huang's power is immense. He truly is a ruthless person who makes one company go bust after another. Not long ago, his company's artists finally got super popular through a variety show, and in the blink of an eye, the show is gone. He really screwed Brother Xiao over hard this time.
[You seem to have discovered the interesting point.]
[It really is! Did "Public Enemy Number One" end up like this because of Young Master Huang's "bankruptcy" aura working overtime? Don't! Brother Xiao, stay away from Young Master Huang! Don't hang out with him!]
A few days later, reminded by He Wenming, Xiao He finally saw these netizens' concerns about his company Linghui Entertainment and "Public Enemy Number One," leaving him somewhat amused and exasperated.
"No way, these netizens really connect everything. No wonder—"
Xiao He recalled recent events, then slapped his forehead. "Oh no, no wonder Young Master Huang called me yesterday, speaking hesitantly, asking if the factory should continue production. I was busy with what I was doing at the time, so I casually replied everything proceeds as usual, then hung up…"
Now all the pieces connected, and Xiao He belatedly realized, "So, Young Master Huang called me because he was afraid I'd believe the online chatter and stop cooperating with him?"
And just as Xiao He finished speaking, the person in question stormed in dramatically.
Seeing Xiao He, he charged over, grabbing Xiao He's arm with an "ao" sound. "Brother Xiao, you can't cut me out of the game—"
His voice sounded utterly miserable.
Xiao He: ??
Wait a minute.