Kevin Tsai faces mainland backlash after DPP rally appearance
Taiwanese host Kevin Tsai attended a DPP campaign rally in Taipei, sparking backlash on Chinese social media and leading to calls for a boycott. Leapmotor distanced itself from Tsai and removed all related content.
Taiwanese veteran host and writer Kevin Tsai Kang-yong faced criticism on Chinese social media after attending a campaign rally for Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen on Sunday 4 October.
Tsai was seen sitting among the crowd at the campaign headquarters launch event, wearing a cap, black face mask and orange shirt. He was also seen holding a campaign flag and an inflatable cheering stick.
Asked about his appearance as he left the event, Tsai said he was “just there to see what it was like.” His manager later said Tsai was considering interviewing both candidates in the Taipei mayoral race and wanted to learn more about their backgrounds and views. Asked whether he would also attend a campaign event for incumbent Taipei mayor Wayne Chiang of the Kuomintang (KMT), Tsai said he would welcome the opportunity to interview all the candidates.
The appearance was widely discussed on Chinese social media, with some users calling for a boycott of Tsai and his commercial activities in mainland China.
Chinese electric vehicle maker Leapmotor issued a statement late Sunday, saying it firmly opposed “Taiwan independence” activities and clarifying that Tsai was not a brand ambassador but an artist who had participated in collaborative content. The company said it had removed all content related to Tsai and reserved the right to pursue legal action.