Zeng Li's Public Relations Disaster
The Zeng Li disaster PR incident began when a loyal fan, known as "Thirteen," discovered on a second-hand trading platform that a custom-made badge she had given to Zeng Li was being sold publicly. This discovery sparked widespread outrage and questioning among fan groups, with many expressing dissatisfaction and disappointment. In response to the controversy, Zeng Li's studio initially remained silent, which was seen as a lack of transparency and only fueled the public's anger.

30 April 2025
When the studio finally issued a statement, it claimed that the sale of the badge was a personal action by an employee, and Zeng Li herself was unaware of the incident. However, the statement failed to appease the fans, and the situation continued to escalate. The studio's handling of the incident has been widely criticized as a "disaster-level" PR crisis. The decision to report the fan to the police and demand an apology has been seen as a severe breach of fan relationships and a significant blow to Zeng Li's public image.
Many have expressed disappointment and disillusionment with Zeng Li and her team, with some even declaring that their "fate" with the actress has come to an end. The public relations crisis surrounding Zeng Li stems from two key missteps. Firstly, the team's handling of the customized badge incident, where a gift from a fan was resold on a second-hand platform, was deemed insensitive and dismissive. Despite the artist receiving the gift, the team allowed it to be resold, and the artist's response of "not intervening in the dispute" was seen as inadequate.

The team's failure to address the management loophole and take concrete actions to rectify the situation exacerbated the issue. Secondly, the team's decision to have the fan who sent the gift write a handwritten apology letter was widely criticized as a "disaster" public relations tactic. This move was perceived as arrogant and dismissive of the fan's feelings, damaging not only the fan's emotions but also the artist's reputation among the general public. The fact that the team asked the fan to apologize, rather than taking responsibility and apologizing themselves, was seen as a significant mistake.
The controversy surrounding Zeng Li's studio has sparked a heated debate on social media, with fans and netizens alike expressing their disappointment and outrage. At the center of the issue is the allegation that a staff member from Zeng Li's studio was selling fan gifts online, which was met with a strong response from the studio. In an attempt to address the situation, a fan who had previously spoken out against the studio released a handwritten apology letter, expressing regret for any harm caused to Zeng Li. However, many fans felt that the apology was misplaced, and that it was the studio that should be apologizing for their actions.
Zeng Li's studio responded by stating that they would continue to gather evidence and protect Zeng Li's rights, but the move was seen by many as an attempt to shift the blame away from themselves. The studio's handling of the situation has been criticized for being insensitive and dismissive of fan concerns. The incident has also raised questions about the management and oversight of Zeng Li's studio, with some fans speculating that the staff member involved in the controversy may have been acting with the knowledge or even complicity of the studio.
As the situation continues to unfold, fans and netizens are calling for greater transparency and accountability from Zeng Li's studio. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of effective crisis management and the need for celebrities and their teams to be mindful of their actions and their impact on their fans. The public reaction to Zeng Li's attempt at damage control was overwhelmingly negative, with the phrase "灾难式公关" translating to "disaster public relations," indicating that Zeng Li's efforts only made the situation worse.

The attempts by Zeng Li to mitigate the crisis were not only unsuccessful but also exacerbated the situation. The public, particularly fans who once supported Zeng Li, voiced their disappointment and disillusionment, with some explicitly stating that their loyalty had reached its end. This drastic turn of events underscored the failure of Zeng Li's public relations strategy, which instead of resolving the issue, led to a wider and more severe loss of public support. The incident has also sparked a broader discussion about the management of fan relationships and the handling of crisis situations in the entertainment industry, with many calling for greater transparency and accountability from celebrities and their teams.
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