Taiwanese singer Aaron Yan Yalun has attracted controversy on the mainland after his speech at Golden Bell Awards touched upon freedom.
The award ceremony of the 56th Golden Bell Awards was held in Taiwan on Saturday night, in which Yan won the Best Host in a Variety Program together with Jesse Tang Qiyang and Sandy Wu Shanru.
"I am grateful to grow up in a place where I could let my mind run free, and I believe we have a bright future ahead of us," he said after receiving the award.
He said that he has been in the entertainment industry for 17 years and experienced highs and lows, but this award is like driftwood in the sea, giving him the motivation to continue.
Some netizens said his speech was an allusion against mainland criticized, as they dubbed him a "Taiwan independence advocate” and asked him not to work on the mainland anymore.
But others said his speech was over-interpreted and that he just showed appreciation for the place where he was born, adding that "we also enjoy freedom on the mainland".
