A professional videographer has issued a formal public apology after leaking unauthorized rehearsal footage of Japanese pop icon Ayumi Hamasaki’s scheduled Shanghai performance, triggering the abrupt cancellation of her highly anticipated concert. The incident, which unfolded over the weekend, has exposed critical vulnerabilities in entertainment event security protocols.
The staff member, identified as Lai Zonglong, confessed to covertly recording Hamasaki during private rehearsals and subsequently posting misleading content to his personal Douyin account last Friday. His actions occurred just one day before the artist’s scheduled performance, part of her broader 2025 Asian tour itinerary.
In an official statement released through his Weibo account ‘Yanhuobinhai,’ Lai acknowledged his serious professional misconduct, including violating strict contractual prohibitions against recording or disseminating any media during closed rehearsals. His posts inadvertently fueled widespread misinformation across social media platforms, including the false narrative that Hamasaki had performed an entire concert to an empty venue.
‘The photographs I shared and the resulting misinformation have substantially disrupted both the performance and concert organization,’ Lai stated. ‘I profoundly regret my actions and offer my sincere apologies for breaching the established protocols set forth by the concert organizers.’
Concert promoters officially canceled the event citing ‘force majeure circumstances’ and committed to processing full refunds for all ticket holders within a 30-day window. Lai has pledged to adhere strictly to workplace regulations and professional ethics moving forward, vowing to ‘resolutely refrain from publishing false information’ online in the future.
The incident has sparked broader conversations about digital accountability, artist rights, and the ethical responsibilities of event staff within the entertainment industry, particularly regarding the protection of artists’ creative content during preparatory phases.