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ByteDance Boss Asks Village to Take Down “Spiritual Idol” Tribute

Home » ByteDance Boss Asks Village to Take Down “Spiritual Idol” Tribute
ByteDance Boss Asks Village to Take Down “Spiritual Idol” Tribute

Zhang Yiming, the billionaire behind TikTok’s parent company ByteDance, has reportedly requested the removal of a stone tablet erected in his honor in his home village.

Images of the tablet, dedicated to the 40-year-old entrepreneur, surfaced online during the Lunar New Year holiday, sparking speculation about its removal. Installed in late 2022, it commemorated Zhang’s donation to an ancestral temple in Kongfu Village, Fujian province.

Since stepping down as ByteDance chairman in 2021, Zhang has maintained a low profile. While the tablet lauded him as a “spiritual idol” for young entrepreneurs, reports suggest he personally requested its removal.

The inscription hailed ByteDance’s achievements in AI and live-streaming commerce, but Zhang reportedly prefers to avoid such idolization. Two villagers even expressed unawareness of the tablet’s existence.

Zhang’s decision aligns with his reported post-ByteDance lifestyle. He reportedly spends most of his time overseas, mainly in Singapore, where TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is also based.

This move echoes a broader trend in China’s tech industry, where stricter regulations have prompted many entrepreneurs to shy away from the spotlight. Collin Huang of PDD Holdings and Xu Yangtian of Shein are prime examples, staying out of public sight despite their companies’ success.

Despite distancing himself from public adulation, Zhang’s philanthropic spirit remains. In May 2023, he reportedly donated another 200 million yuan to an education fund in his hometown.

While his business ventures continue to thrive, Zhang Yiming seems more comfortable avoiding the “spiritual idol” label. This request reflects a changing landscape in China’s tech industry, where many choose discretion over public acclaim.

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