Overseasidol.com — On December 18, former SNH48 member Zeng Yanfen drew renewed attention after releasing another lengthy statement addressing her ongoing controversy with Siba Media.
In her post, she shared personal details about her income during her time in the group and reflected on the role fans played in sustaining her career as an idol.
She bluntly revealed the salary he earned during his time as a member from the second generation debut until his departure.
At the time of his debut in 2013, he only received 1,800 yuan per month. Then in 2015, his salary increased due to his high popularity in the elections.
In 2015, he ranked 9th in the elections and received a salary of 8,000 yuan. Then in 2016, she ranked fourth in the group’s general election, with a monthly salary ranging from 25,000 to 30,000 yuan.
In 2017, she earned 25,000 yuan before eventually taking a break and leaving the group.
However, she emphasized that this income was largely made possible by her fans, who collectively spent more than seven million yuan to support her in voting campaigns.
She stressed that the salary she received was, in effect, the result of her fans’ sacrifices rather than a benefit granted solely by the company.
She further explained that while she was still an active member, she openly expressed dissatisfaction with what she viewed as a system that encouraged intense competition among members and stimulated excessive fan spending.
According to Zeng Yanfen, her refusal to conform led to strained relations with management, including cold treatment and reprimands from company executives.
Responding to public reactions to her earlier statements, Zeng Yanfen firmly stated that she had not lied and had no intention of harming others.
She said she was simply recounting her personal experiences of how the company treated her, fellow members, and fans, which ultimately prompted her decision to leave the group.
Zeng Yanfen also clarified that she has long since stepped away from idol life and now considers herself an ordinary person.
She said she is unconcerned with public criticism or reputation, as long as she speaks truthfully about her experiences.
In her view, the common perception that all entertainment figures earn money easily often shifts blame toward artists while overlooking deeper issues related to corporate practices and power dynamics within the industry.
