After years of repeated suspensions tied to his resemblance to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, baritone Liu Keqing says he has regained access to his account on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok.
Liu’s square face, closely cropped black hair, and stocky build have long prompted followers to comment on his resemblance to China’s top leader, a similarity that in recent years has repeatedly led to platform restrictions.
Once his account was restored, he changed his profile photo to a suit-and-tie portrait with neatly styled hair, a look that echoed elements of some of Xi’s official images.
The update prompted a fresh round of online discussion, with many users saying the photo made him look even more like the Chinese leader.
From Viral Videos to Erased Accounts
Liu first gained traction online by posting bel canto tutorials and vocal warm-ups. His energetic videos quickly found an audience. One clip drew hundreds of thousands of likes in just two days.The attention, he later wrote on WeChat, China’s popular messaging app, was “not because of my singing, but because I look like a national leader.”
As comparisons to Xi spread across comment sections, Liu says the mood began to change.
Starting in 2019, his accounts were repeatedly restricted or taken down on platforms including Douyin, as authorities prepared tightly choreographed celebrations marking 70 years of Chinese Communist Party rule (CCP) in China.
His Douyin account, which had attracted hundreds of thousands of followers, was taken down. Liu says his name was filtered in search results, comments were disabled on some videos, and profile photos showing him in a suit were flagged.
Chinese reports said platforms cited violations tied to his “appearance.” Liu has denied impersonating Xi or trying to use the likeness for political gain.
“Thank you, chairman,” one commenter wrote beneath a video of Liu singing a patriotic song. Another described him as having “the bearing of an emperor.” A third wrote simply: “Too scared to comment.”
Liu said the repeated bans also had financial consequences. Account suspensions reduced his work opportunities and income, he wrote. With four children to support, he had hoped to earn money by livestreaming vocal lessons, but recurring shutdowns limited his ability to monetize his content.
Image Control in the Xi Era
Analysts say Liu’s case highlights how tightly China manages discussion of its top leader, and how that sensitivity can even sweep up people with no political intent.Under Xi, authorities have aggressively policed jokes, satire, and memes about the leader, who has consolidated power to a degree unseen in decades. Past mockery, including comparisons to Winnie the Pooh, has led to arrests, account bans, and sweeping censorship.
Xi maintains no personal social media accounts, and portrayals of him are largely confined to official state channels, where his image is carefully curated.
Experts say that the environment may help explain why Liu drew scrutiny. His page, they suggest, could have become a space for coded commentary or criticism aimed at Xi or the CCP.
Liu, however, has repeatedly denied any political motive. He has described himself as patriotic and said he does not want to “cause trouble for the country.”
Online Reaction
Liu’s recent return to Douyin and his subsequent decision to replace his profile photo quickly became a topic of discussion among Chinese internet users overseas.Some users also drew parallels to imperial-era naming taboos, when people were expected to avoid using characters from an emperor’s name. They suggested that sensitivities surrounding the country’s top leader echo traditions from China’s past.
For now, Liu’s account remains active, though several commenters questioned how long that will last.