Led by: Former Hong Kong television star Ma Zai-wei, who left the entertainment industry to pursue business, made his debut on the Chinese live-streaming platform Douyin on Monday night from Yunfu, drawing a peak of 30,000 concurrent viewers and a total of 2.466 million viewers over 90 minutes. He explicitly banned tips and virtual gifts, promising to personally match any received donations and give the total to charity.
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Ma, 53, best known for his roles in classic TVB dramas, has maintained a strong social media presence since stepping away from acting. His first Douyin livestream, announced just days earlier, quickly became a trending topic. During the broadcast, he sang a setlist of popular Cantonese and Mandarin hits, including A Letter to Myself, Laugh at the Wind and Clouds, As You Wish, Invisible Wings, and I Really Got Hurt. The session resembled a mini-concert, and he obliged fan requests for a duet of The Fragrance of the Princess.
At the outset, Ma made his terms clear: “No gifts, no tips. I just like to sing and talk to my fans.” Despite his plea, viewers sent a flood of virtual gifts. In response, he announced that he would personally match every dollar received and donate the combined amount to charitable organizations. No specific charity or timeline was disclosed during the stream.
Lifestyle Shift and No-Filter Appeal
Addressing questions about his current life, Ma revealed a dramatic change in routine. “I now go to bed at 9 p.m. and wake up naturally at 5 a.m.,” he said. “My lifestyle has totally changed. I no longer carry the burden of being a celebrity.” He also leaned into the camera and joked, “I’m not using beauty filters, and I haven’t had any cosmetic procedures.”
The livestream featured two surprise guests: stray dogs he adopted in mainland China, named Laifu and Wangcai. The dogs were brought into the studio and allowed to run around the compound, where fans in attendance had the chance to take photos with them.
Implications for Celebrity Livestreaming
Ma’s move to Douyin—and his refusal to monetize the broadcast—stands in contrast to many celebrities who use live-streaming to hawk products or collect virtual tips, which can amount to millions of yuan per session. His decision to double all donations adds a philanthropic layer that may set a precedent for how public figures engage with fans on these platforms.
The event also highlights the growing migration of Hong Kong entertainers to mainland Chinese social media, where the potential audience is far larger than in the territory. For Ma, now focused on business ventures, the livestream allowed him to reconnect with loyal followers without commercial pressure.
Next Steps
Ma has not announced a date for his next broadcast, but his Douyin channel is expected to remain active. Fans have already begun requesting a regular series of “no-gift” sessions. Charitable organizations may soon receive the matched funds, and Ma’s approach could encourage other artists to reconsider the ethics of accepting large-scale virtual tipping.
