 |
| Hidden Camera Fears After Justin Huang’s Backstage Vape Clip Goes Viral |
Chinese singer-rapper Justin Huang Minghao has suddenly become the centre of online chatter again — but this time, not for his music.
Earlier last week, short clip of the 23-year-old lounging in what looked like a backstage waiting room spread like wildfire across social media & trending topic.
 |
In the viral footage, Justin Huang was casually scrolling on his phone while puffing on an e-cigarette, releasing little clouds of vapour into the air.
The exact location of the room hasn’t been confirmed, though fans point out he’s been performing across China in recent weeks.
 |
Justin Huang has been in the public eye since his mid-teens. He first shot to fame at just 15 when he joined Idol Producer, the Chinese survival reality show that created boy band Nine Percent.
Ranking fourth in the finals, he debuted as part of the nine-member group, quickly gaining a reputation as one of the most promising young idols of his generation.
Because of that, many netizens admitted feeling uneasy seeing the once fresh-faced trainee now caught vaping — even though e-cigarettes remain legal in China.
“It’s like watching your little brother pick up a habit you wish he wouldn’t,” one commenter sighed on Weibo.
Interestingly, plenty of fans weren’t overly fussed about the vape itself. Instead, their alarm bells rang over how the clip was recorded in the first place.
 |
If Justin Huang was truly in his private holding room, that suggests a breach of privacy — possibly even hidden surveillance.
Hashtags like #JustinHuangVape and #BackstageHiddenCamera began trending as supporters urged his studio to carry out a sweep for secret recording devices.
Some even argued the real issue wasn’t whether Justin vaped, but whether idols are being secretly monitored in their downtime.
 |
This isn’t the first time Chinese celebrities have found themselves in viral controversies sparked by candid or unauthorised footage.
But the reaction to Justin’s clip shows a growing shift: younger audiences are just as concerned about their idols’ privacy as they are about their behaviour.
Whether or not the studio confirms hidden cameras, the incident has left fans suspicious — and reminded everyone that the line between stage and backstage has never been thinner in today’s digital era.
Photo: Weibo/Eral