Russian man ‘trapped’ on Chinese reality series for three months is finally voted off
A Russian man who has spent nearly three months as a reluctant contestant on a Chinese reality show has finally been voted off.
Vladislav Ivanov, 27, featured on the recent series of Produce Camp 2021 (also known as CHUANG 2021), a reality show focusing on aspiring boy band performers.
Ivanov was initially hired by the series as a Chinese translator, but was asked if he wanted to participate in the show after directors reportedly thought he looked the part.
“They asked if I’d like to try a new life,” Ivanov explained in an episode the show.
The contestant made no secret of his distaste for the show, telling viewers (per SCMP): ““Becoming a member of a boy band is not my dream as I can’t sing and dance.
“I hope the judges won’t support me. While the others want to get an A, I want to get an F as it stands for freedom.”
Performing under the stage name of Lelush, Ivanov inadvertently won over many of the show’s viewers by singing, rapping and dancing with a visible lack of enthusiasm.
Imploring people to vote him out of the series, he told viewers he did not wish to be one of the show’s 11 winners, who are under a contractual obligation to form a boy band.
After making it to the final, Ivanov eventually left the series last week, posting on Chinese social media site Weibo that he was “finally getting off work”.
On Weibo, the Russian embassy sent “congratulations” to Ivanov for his departure from the series.
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