In a shocking revelation, a leaked audio recording has brought to light the alleged mistreatment experienced by the late singer Coco Lee during her time as a judge on the popular Chinese singing competition show, ‘Sing! China.’
The audio, spanning nine minutes, features Coco emotionally recounting the ordeal she faced at the hands of the show’s production team.
The incident revolved around her support for one of her mentees and the subsequent backlash she received from the production team.
Coco Lee’s Emotional Outburst
The leaked audio captures Coco Lee’s emotional outpouring as she describes the alleged humiliation she endured from the production team.
It was triggered by the disqualification of one of her mentees, Zhou Feige, despite receiving a relatively high score of 88.3.
In stark contrast, contestants with lower scores were allowed to proceed to the next round, leading to Coco’s impassioned protest.
Questioning the Unfairness
During the show, Coco Lee voiced her discontent over the apparent unfairness of the decision. She boldly questioned why a contestant with a higher score was denied the opportunity to continue while those with lower scores were advanced. Her frustration with this discrepancy resonated with viewers and sparked a heated discussion.
Amidst the chaos, Coco Lee remained steadfast in her stance. She boldly proclaimed that what she said was the truth and lamented that her words were likely to be edited out, emphasizing her desire for transparency and fairness.
Battling Adversity
Coco Lee’s candid revelation that she battled breast cancer further highlighted her commitment to the show and the contestants.
She expressed her willingness to put her health at risk to be a part of the platform that celebrated her love for music and helped young artists thrive.
She exclaimed shakily “It’s okay if I sacrifice myself, but I never expected these people to be bad people. They targeted me because I told the truth.”
Allegations of Mistreatment
The audio recording unveiled allegations of mistreatment, including claims that Coco Lee was physically manhandled by the show’s assistants.
She described a distressing incident where she was reportedly grabbed and threatened when she tried to stand up for her beliefs.
Performing Through Pain
A particularly distressing revelation was Coco’s account of being made to perform despite her pre-existing leg condition.
She recounted how she had made arrangements to accommodate her condition during rehearsals, only to be forced to perform without support during filming. The emotional toll this took on her was palpable as she described the humiliation she felt on stage.
She had a leg condition and couldn’t stand for too long, and she got her mentee Wang Zepeng to stand beside her during the performance because she didn’t want to been seen with crutches or sitting in a wheelchair.
However, during the filming of the performance, the production team made her move to the side of the stage, resulting in her without anything to support her and she couldn’t stabilise herself standing – as a result, she performed the song in pain, and she called the show’s producers for humiliating her.
9. Response from ‘Sing! China’
In response to the leaked audio, the show’s producers released a statement acknowledging misunderstandings during production.
They expressed their respect for Coco Lee’s dedication to the show and her role as a judge. However, they declined to provide further details and requested that Coco’s memory be respected.
Tragically, Coco Lee passed away on July 5 at the age of 48. Her legacy as a talented singer and a dedicated mentor on ‘Sing! China’ continues to resonate with fans and fellow artists alike.
Her willingness to stand up against injustice and mistreatment serves as an inspiration to those who value integrity and fairness.