BEING kicked out of a reality TV show might not be something to celebrate, but for one Russian man it was a dream come true — and the latest twist in his unlikely journey to becoming an icon for Chinese slackers. Vladislav Ivanov — better known by his stage name Lelush — is one of the hottest stars of the Chinese Internet at the moment. Hashtags and memes featuring his sulky, bored face dominate social media, as thousands of youths have embraced the 27-year-old model as the new symbol of “sang wenhua,” a youth sub-culture centered on pessimism and apathy. It all began when he made the worst — but also possibly the best — decision of his life. Trapped in a TV show Earlier this year, Lelush was asked to give Chinese lessons to two Japanese contestants in “Chuang 2021,” a reality TV competition aimed at creating China’s next boy band sensation. The Russian model, who is fluent in the language after living in China for several years, agreed. But Lelush’s good looks did not escape the notice of the show’s producers. Days before the show began in early February, they asked him: “Would you like to join as well?” Figuring he had nothing to lose — in later interviews he said he “felt like trying out a new life” — Lelush said yes. As one of the show’s 90 contestants, he was promptly enrolled in a boy band boot camp — hours upon hours of singing and dance classes, with his every move broadcast to the rest of China. According to reports, contestants could not leave their accommodation on the island of Hainan, and were cut off from the online world. They had no access to computers and even had to hand over their mobile phones. This was clearly not what Lelush had expected — and he was brutally honest about it. “I don’t want to dance. I’m also not suitable for a boy band too. So I’m really very tired. I want to go home this month,” he bluntly stated in one interview. But there was not much of a way out — the contract contestants had signed reportedly carried a hefty fine if they decided to leave. The only way they could escape was if they got voted out. And so, Lelush decided to be the worst contestant ever on “Chuang 2021.” Week after week he slept in late, sulked through his interviews, and listlessly took part in classes, taking every opportunity to slack off during rehearsals. For his stage performances, while other contestants crooned romantic ballads or performed energetic dance numbers, he mumbled his way through a mournful Russian rap — twice. To his exasperation, the audience loved it all — his dourness, his deadpan answers, his low-key frustration at being trapped in a 21st Century Kafkaesque nightmare. The show’s directors, sensing he was ratings gold, played up his reluctance in their edits of episodes. Meanwhile his ever-growing fanbase — who christened themselves “sun si,” or “mean fans” — voted for him repeatedly to ensure he remained in the show for weeks, grimacing and gyrating for their viewing pleasure. Thus, like an unwilling phoenix half-heartedly flapping out of the ashes, a new star of Chinese slackerdom was born. ‘If you love me, don’t support me’ Expressed largely in online memes and jokes — but also now a marketing trend that sells bubble tea, among other things — China’s “sang wenhua,” or “sang” culture, is a movement that ironically celebrates aimlessness and hopelessness. Its name uses a Chinese character that means “loss.” Previous poster boys have included Ge You, a popular Chinese actor slumped on a sofa, Pepe the Frog, Bojack Horseman and even a lazy Japanese fried egg mascot. But perhaps the only person who hated Lelush’s journey to become a slacker icon was Lelush himself. “If you love me, please don’t support me,” he pleaded with fans, in video after video filmed for the show. His wish was finally granted a few weekends ago when, to his utter relief, he finally got voted out of Chuang 2021 after three long months on the show. Footage of that episode showed him waving onstage along with other contestants, then dashing headlong towards the exit, with show staff in hot pursuit. Shortly afterwards a new post popped up on his official Weibo account, though it’s not known if it was penned by him or the show’s producers: “Thank you everyone for your support. I finally get to knock off work.” Still in spotlight Since leaving the show he has kept a low profile, saying little to the media. He did not even respond to BBC’s requests for an interview. He refused to tell Chinese news outlets what his next steps were, only cryptically saying: “I don’t want to constrain my freedom.” But there hasn’t been a day without his name appearing on the top trending topics on Weibo, China’s social media site. While the 27-year-old part-time model officially goes about his daily life now, seemingly inane hashtags such as “Lelush goes window shopping,” “Lelush goes for a stroll,” and “Lelush what’s good in Chongqing” continue to dominate social media, as fans find amusement in how he’s been celebrating his newfound freedom. There are signs that he intends to cash in on his newfound fame. Since the competition ended, he’s appeared on “Happy Camp,” one of China’s most popular variety shows, as well as in endorsements for Luckin Coffee and a bedding brand. He lately plugged a mobile phone game on his Weibo account — with the ironic hashtag “Lelush working on Labor Day” — and has been offered a deal with another game developer. ?(SD-Agencies) | 