The latest season of the hit Chinese survival show Sisters making waves has entered the final stages, but the spotlight is no longer on performances. Instead, controversy erupted off stage following serious accusations made by contestant Zhao Ziqi.
Zhao Ziqi, who was eliminated after the first performance, sparked intense debate online after publicly criticizing the production team during a live stream. While his early exit already surprised many viewers, his post-show statements quickly turned the situation into a full-blown controversy.
She claimed that immediately after her elimination, she was not allowed to return to the waiting room to collect her belongings or properly alter her appearance. By her account, she was also required to continue wearing a microphone while filming the exit video, a situation she described humiliating and emotionally distressing.
Zhao Ziqi said the experience left her with feelings disrespected and “deeply hurt,” later declaring that he would definitively distance oneself from the program.
The most explosive accusation, however, concerns the show’s editing process. Zhao Ziqi claimed that the producers deliberately manipulated the footage to create misleading narrativesincluding a invented topic involving her and fellow contestant Zhang Huiwen after she had already left the stage.
He accused the production team of “distorting reality” AND “putting words in her mouth”, suggesting that the edited version of events damaged his public image and misrepresented his personality.
These claims have fueled ongoing discussions about the ethics of reality show production in China, particularly regarding editing practices and narrative control.
Refusing to remain silent, Zhao Ziqi released what fans are calling a “last warning” to the production team, demanding a clear explanation of the alleged misconduct. She also warned that if no response is provided, she will be prepared to release evidence that will debunk what she describes hidden problems behind the scenes.
Her strong stance quickly went viral, turning her into the center of a heated online debate, with many netizens now awaiting the next development in the ongoing controversy.
This isn’t the first controversy surrounding the current season. Previously, during the first round of exhibition, the voting results had already attracted criticism Unexpected rankings have put some teams, despite excellent performances, in dangerous areas.
These recurring controversies have intensified speculations in this regard possible manipulation, favoritism towards popular competitors and behind-the-scenes production bias.
At the moment, the production team has not released any official statement regarding Zhao Ziqi’s allegations. The silence has only fueled further speculation, with online discussions becoming increasingly intense on Chinese social media platforms.
Sources: Sohu, Weibo
