In a Beijing Evening News, a talent show in the Chinese capital has earned the ire of hundreds of children and their parents after not getting a chance to appear on stage.
The protest comes after the parents have paid as much as 4,000 yuan for the next stage of the talent competition, which was held in Beijing.
Chenchen, one of the "victims," is from East China's Shandong Province. According to her, she has passed two rounds of primary selections and was given the opportunity to compete in the finals in Beijing.
Despite her parents paying 4,000 yuan, she lost in an audition held at the program's Beijing office.
Many other children shared the same experience and echoed the same sentiment. The parents claim that they paid 2,000 yuan and other extra fee for accommodation and other expenses.
According to them, the children were told that they will perform on various entertainment programs of the country's largest TV network, the China Central Television (CCTV).
Many parents see a CCTV appearance as a way to introduce their children in the arena of entertainment. The network has been regarded as a springboard for career success.
Meanwhile, on Monday afternoon, parents gathered in front of the Daxing District-located Star Park studio and demanded for an explanation from the show's executives.
During interviews, they noted that the final stage of the competition was not done professionally, sending doubts whether the talent show was trustworthy.
For instance, the singing contest was held without music. The hip-hop category, on the other hand, was staged in a blanket-covered office, which limited the children's movement range.
Some parents even voiced out that the whole production was "a mess."
When they tried to reach the program director, the phone went dead.
Parents have been concerned with the impact of the "deceit," stating that their children have worked very hard to advance.