Joanne Peh canceled June 17 livestream after reps smoked in her face. Owner apologized with dumplings, but she refuses future work.
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Source: OT-Team(G), Social media
Singaporean actress Joanne Peh, who has been actively venturing into livestream e-commerce, made headlines this week after abruptly canceling a scheduled collaboration with a Chinese brand—and then tearfully calling out the company for what she described as a complete lack of respect.
The incident has sparked widespread discussion across social media platforms, with netizens largely rallying behind the veteran actress.
Last-Minute Cancellation After Hours of Preparation
Peh was originally set to host a product livestream on TikTok in China on June 17. In preparation, she and her team had flown from Hangzhou to Guangzhou, filmed promotional content, and invested significant time into planning the session.
However, just hours before going live, Peh made the decision to pull the plug entirely.
In a subsequent emotional broadcast, she opened up about what led to the cancellation.
“My team and I have never been demanding people,” she said. “We don’t ask for luxury cars, flower receptions, or large support crews. But that doesn’t mean we expect nothing. At the very least, after we sit down, shouldn’t we be offered a drink?”
She also criticized the brand’s attitude, calling it “arrogant.”
“If you think you can complete the livestream all by yourself, then you don’t need to invite creators to collaborate in the first place.”
‘Disrespect’ on Multiple Fronts: Tardiness, Smoking, and Unfinished Setup
Although the original livestream replay has since been removed, netizens shared clips of Peh’s remarks. According to those excerpts, the issues went beyond poor hospitality. The brand representatives were reportedly unpunctual and communicated with a dismissive tone.
What crossed the line for Peh, however, was the smoking incident. She said she had explicitly asked not to have anyone smoke in her presence—only to be told by the person in charge, “This is my office,” as he continued to light up.
“I felt completely disrespected,” she said.
‘I Cannot in Good Conscience Support This’
Following the backlash, Peh took to TikTok Stories to further explain her decision.
“Canceling a livestream is never a light decision,” she wrote. “It means our team’s time, effort, and income all take a hit.”
She added, “I canceled because I witnessed things that, in good conscience, I could not support.”
While she did not name the brand or disclose every detail, she made it clear that her 20-year career in the entertainment industry had taught her to value integrity over commercial success.
“Success is built on people’s support—and that support should be appreciated, not taken for granted. Respect should never be optional.”
She also noted that on the day of the broadcast, the physical setup was incomplete, with equipment still unassembled.
“On its own, each issue might not seem huge. But when you put it all together, it becomes something I simply cannot accept.”
Brand Owner Apologizes in Person with Gifts and Dumplings
After Peh canceled, the brand’s leadership responded quickly. According to Peh, the company owner flew in from Chengdu and Shenzhen to Guangzhou that same day, arriving at her hotel to apologize in person. He brought gifts, a written apology, and—fittingly—rice dumplings (zongzi) for the Dragon Boat Festival.
Peh said she accepted only the letter and the dumplings. “It was Dragon Boat Festival that day, so I kept the dumplings. As for future collaboration? For now, I won’t be working with them again.”
Husband Qi Yuwu Speaks Out: ‘Not All Chinese Brands Are Like This’
Peh also revealed that it was her husband, actor Qi Yuwu, who encouraged her to speak openly about the experience.
“He told me, since you’re feeling so wronged, just share it directly with your fans,” she said.
This was the first time in her two years of livestreaming that she had encountered such disrespect, she added.
Toward the end of her broadcast, Qi appeared on screen to comfort her. He admitted his eyes welled up—not just out of empathy for his wife, but also because of the overwhelming support pouring in from viewers.
“Seeing her so upset really hurt me. And this happened in Guangzhou—my hometown. Every time she visits, I want her to love this city. I never expected something like this to happen that night,” he said.
At the same time, Qi was careful to stress that the incident should not be generalized.
“Not all Chinese brands or business partners are like this. It wouldn’t be fair to say that, and that’s not my point. Let’s treat this as one isolated case. I hope netizens don’t overgeneralize.”
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