Jackson Yee - Wikiwand

Jackson Yee (simplified Chinese: 易烊千玺; traditional Chinese: 易烊千璽; pinyin: Yì Yángqiānxǐ; born 28 November 2000) is a Chinese actor, singer and dancer. He rose to fame as a member of the Chinese boy band TFBoys since 2013.^[1] His single, Li Sao (The Lament) was named "Mandarin Song of the Year" in 2017 by Billboard Radio China. He starred in the television series The Longest Day in Chang'an (2019), and received critical acclaim for the films Better Days (2019), A Little Red Flower (2020), Nice View (2022), Full River Red (2023), and Big World (2024).

Quick Facts Born, Alma mater ...

Jackson Yee

易烊千玺

Yee in 2019

Born

Yi Yangqianxi

28 November 2000 (age 24)

Huaihua, Hunan, China

Alma mater

The Central Academy of Drama

Occupations

Singer
actor
dancer

Musical career

Genres

Years active

2005–present

Labels

Time Fengjun Entertainment (2013–)
Jackson Yee Studio (2017–)
Beijing Jiumude Culture Media Center (2018–)

Member of

TFBoys

Formerly of

Fashion Youngster (2009–2011)

Chinese name

Traditional Chinese

易烊千璽

Simplified Chinese

易烊千玺

Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Yì Yángqiānxǐ

Yee ranked eighth on Forbes China Celebrity 100 list in 2019, and first in 2020 and 2021.^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7] According to Chinese media reports in 2019, he is one of the most commercially valuable stars in China.^[8]^[9]

Career

Summarize

Perspective

2005–2013: Career beginnings, Fashion Youngster

Yee began his career as a child star, appearing in several variety programs from 2005 to 2008.^[10]^[11] In 2009, Yee became a member of former Chinese idol group Fashion Youngsters. He left the group in 2011.^[11] In 2010, Yee made his acting debut in the television series Iron Pear.^[11]

In March 2012, Yee participated in Hunan TV's reality talent show Up Young and entered the top 100. Despite being eliminated, he attracted the attention of TF Entertainment and was invited to audition with the company. Prior to debuting with TFBoys, Yee released his first solo single "Dream Skyscraper".^[12] He also acted in several short films^[13]^[14] and appeared in the music video for Father (2013), a song by The Voice of China contestant Zhang Hexuan.

2013–2016: TFBoys and solo activities

Yee officially debuted as a member of TFBoys in August, 2013. In 2015, he voiced the main character for the Chinese dub of the animated movie The Little Prince.^[15]

In July 2016, he starred in the xianxia television series, Noble Aspirations, playing a fox demon.^[16] In November, he released his second solo single "You Say". The single was produced by music producer Lee Wei Song and written by Leehom Wang.^[17] The same month, he joined the cast of the variety show Let Go of My Baby.^[18]

2017–Present: Mainstream popularity

In January 2017, Yee joined the voice cast of the animated movie GG Bond: Guarding, playing the character of a mysterious man.^[19] Yee starred as the young version of the male protagonist in historical drama Song of Phoenix.^[20] He also released his own rendition of Li Sao for the soundtrack of the drama.^[21]

In September 2017, it was announced that Yee has set up his own independent studio for his solo activities.^[22] In November, Yee released his first English language single, titled Nothing to Lose, produced by Harvey Mason Jr., while Yee participated in the lyrics writing.^[23] Five days later, he released another single, titled Unpredictable, produced by David Gamson and with lyrics written by Dave Gibson.^[24] Both songs ranked number two and one respectively on the FreshAsia Music Chart.^{[citation needed]}

In 2018, Yee was confirmed to join the dance-oriented variety show Street Dance of China as a captain.^[25] Yee was invited to attend the 60th Grammy Award Ceremony on 28 January 2018, held in New York as the Music Ambassador of Radio 101, a China Music Vision guest. He was also the youngest Chinese musician ever to be officially invited to the ceremony.^[26] The same month, Yee was named as one of the top 10 influential charity stars by Sina.^[27] Later in the year, it was announced that he will star in the fantasy animated film L.O.R.D: Legend of Ravaging Dynasties 2.^[28] He was invited to perform at the closing ceremony of 2018 Asian Games to promote the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games.^[29]^[30] This year, he was accepted into Beijing's prestigious Central Academy of Drama after placing first and achieving the highest score for both his college entrance examination and live audition.^[31]^[32]

In 2019, Yee starred in the film Better Days, adapted from a Chinese novel In His Youth, In Her Beauty.^[33] His performance earned him the Best New Performer Award at the 39th Hong Kong Film Awards.^[34] The same year, he starred in the historical mystery drama The Longest Day in Chang'an.^[35]^[36]^[37] On 22 December 2019, he held his first solo concert, Su Er in Shanghai, China.^[38]

In 2020, Yee starred in period action drama Forward Forever.^[35] In November 2020, he released Backseat Theater, a cover album. He recreated his imaginary "backseat concert" based on his numerous journey of going back and forth between North 2nd Ring Road and Changping when he was small.^[39] His second film, A Little Red Flower, was released in the theaters on 31 December 2020.^[40]

In 2021, Yee's first war film,The Battle at Lake Changjin, was released in the cinemas on 30 September 2021, and it became the highest-grossing film of all time in China.^[41]^[42] He was featured in the short film, A Date with Snow and Ice, that promotes Beijing Winter Olympic Torch Relay with Eileen Gu.^[43] The next year, Yee starred in a sequel to the film, The Battle at Lake Changjin II, was released on 1 February 2022.^[44]

In January 2023, Yee starred in the film Full River Red, directed by Zhang Yimou. The film gained a box office of 4.5 billion RMB, becoming the one of the highest-grossing film of all time in mainland China.^[45] On 14 April 2023, Madame Tussauds Hong Kong and Shanghai joined together to unveil two brand new wax figures of Yee.^[46] He is also the first-ever millennial to have three different wax figures at Madame Tussauds.^[47] His first figure was unveiled in 2018.^[47]

In January 2024, Yee was elected as a member of the Chinese Film Association Council, making him the youngest among the 167 members.^[48] On 24 June 2024, Yee has been appointed as the first Olympic™️ Friend in the People's Republic of China and will be championing the Olympic Values and Paris 2024 in his homeland.^[49]^[50] Two days later, with 30 days left until the 2024 Paris Olympics, Yee spoke about the Olympic spirit in an International Olympic Committee promotional video.^[51]

Other ventures

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Perspective

Philanthropy

In June 2017, Yee was chosen as one of the WHO China Tobacco Control Champion by the World Health Organization.^[52]^[53]

In September 2017, Yee called for preserving and protecting the historic sites, and to stop uncivilized actions on cultural relics and monuments. He was named ambassador of the China Foundation for Cultural Heritage Conservation's Great Wall Charity Campaign Guardian of the Great Wall.^[54]

In November 2017, Yee was invited by the World Health Organization to Geneva as one of the four youth leaders from China, to give a speech a calling for the elimination of AIDS discrimination. Shortly after, he was awarded the title of WHO China Special Envoy For Health. As the special envoy for WHO in China, he naturally put an emphasis on healthy living, and also mentioned his support for the Children's Companion Program, a project that aims to help children in rural provinces whose parents have moved away to work in major cities.^[53] The same month, he collaborated with 16 other celebrities on the song "Embracing You", which serves as the theme song for 30th World AIDS Day.^[55]

At his birthday concert, held on 28 November 2017, Yee announced the establishment of the Jackson Yee Fund. Its first phase will help raise 1.5 million yuan ($227,000) to support a charity program for the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation to help more than 12,000 rural, "left-behind" children, whose parents have moved to urban areas to earn a living with temporary jobs.^[56]

In 2019, Yee represented China at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum. Joined by nearly 1,000 other youth advocates in New York on 8 and 9 April, he met with government ministers and officials to advance the role of young people in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.^[8]^[57] Using the phrase "Yi qi lai ba!", Yee launched a new collaboration with WHO China encouraging young people to join to choose active, healthy lifestyles.^[58]

On 9 November 2019, Yee was announced as the China Forest Fire Management Charity Ambassador^[59]^[60] to promote the awareness of forest fires - to prevent forest fires and protect our green homes.⁣

In July 2021, Yee donated one million to Red Cross Society of China Zhengzhou Branch^[61] plus another one million to Han Hong Love Charity Foundation^[62]^[63] to relieve the damages done in 2021 Henan floods. In respond to 2025 Tibet earthquake, Yee donated money to Han Hong Love Charity Foundation.^[64]

Endorsements

On 28 July 2021, Yee was announced as the Nescafé brand ambassador as they shared the same attitude of "dare to think and act".^[65]

Fashion

On 5 April 2021, Armani beauty made Yee as its global makeup and skincare ambassador.^[66] He had been the ambassador for Giorgio Armani makeup for China since January 2020 and an Emporio Armani global ambassador since August 2020. “Jackson Yee really has a voice in China,” Véronique Gautier, global president of Armani Beauty, told WWD. She said he also resonates with young people and his human engagement echoes that of Giorgio Armani.^[67] On 19 January 2022, Armani beauty made Yee its Giorgio Armani Global Beauty Ambassador.^[68]

On 16 April 2021, Yee was promoted to Tiffany & Co.’s global ambassador^[69] as his endorsement of the brand at a regional level in China since his appointment June 2020 has "generated impressive levels of social media fan growth and consumer engagement that well exceeded our expectations,” said CEO Alessandro Bogliolo.^[70] President Anthony Ledru mentioned in fall 2023 that the utilization of a digital Chinese Valentine’s Day campaign with Yee had produced remarkable results as they looked for novel ways to draw in new audiences.^[71]

On 1 November 2022, Yee was appointed as the global ambassador of Jaeger-LeCoultre.^[72] "I greatly admire Jaeger-LeCoultre for its elegant and timeless style, rich heritage and constant quest for innovation," Yee said of his latest appointment. "I feel honored to work with the Maison and very much look forward to our new collaboration."^[73]

On 19 June 2024, Yee was selected as the global brand ambassador of Lindberg.^[74] He embodies the brand's spirit of "design, innovation, and personalization" through his versatility and eagerness to explore new creative realms.^[75]

On 20 August 2024, Yee was named the Golden Goose global brand ambassador. According to Silvio Campara, the CEO of Golden Goose, he is a true embodiment of creative energy and passion, aligning beautifully with the core values and authentic essence of the brand. The band appreciate his diverse approach to creativity and how it reflects the brand's identity.^[76]

Controversy

In August 2019, Yee ended his contracts with Givenchy after the brand produced a T-shirt listing Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan as separate countries.^[77]

In March 2021, Yee distanced himself with Adidas after the brand announced its decision to not use cotton sourced from the Xinjiang region where there were alleged human rights issues.^[78]^[79]

On 6 July 2022, Yee, a graduate of the Central Academy of Drama, was announced as one of the candidates admitted to the National Theatre of China as part of its 2022 cohort of fresh graduates. The announcement of a celebrity securing a bianzhi—a stable job with lifetime benefits at a government or government-backed institution—sparked heated discussion online over alleged irregular recruitment practices, lack of transparency, and unfair acquisition of such coveted positions, particularly amid China’s dire job market at the time. On 16 July, the National Theatre of China issued a statement confirming that the recruitment process was conducted in accordance with established procedures and requirements. On 17 July, Yee announced his withdrawal from the position to quell the controversy.^[80]^[81]