Taiwanese pop superstar Jay Chou Chieh-lun has recently set everyone whispering after hitting the 'unfollow' button on the list of over 20 celebrities—including Taiwanese-American singer Wang Leehom and NBA star LeBron James—since launching his Instagram account eight years ago.
According to reports, Chou's following list has not only expanded but also seen several celebrities quietly drop off.
Some observant fans also noticed Chou has significantly reduced his Instagram posts, having deleted a total of 623 posts.
Who’s on the unfollow list?
Chou’s Instagram following featured a global array of celebrities, from close stage confidants to international superstars.
Notably, his unfollow list included Mandopop artists such as Wang Leehom, Jackson Wang, and Kris Wu Yifan, along with international stars like Mark Ruffalo, Dwayne Johnson, and Oscar-winning actor Will Smith.
Additionally, NBA superstar LeBron James and Grammy-winning artist Bruno Mars also made the cut.
Past interactions with unfollowed celebrities
Among those unfollowed, several had significant interactions with Chou. For instance, his relationship with Wang Leehom—a mix of rivalry and friendship—saw a warm moment during a birthday celebration in 2021, where they sang "The Only One" together.
However, their friendly exchanges came to a halt following Wang's personal controversies in December of that year, leading Chou to swiftly unfollow him.
Chou also developed a friendship with Mark Ruffalo during the filming “Now You See Me 2” in 2016, where their friendship became a hot topic during the film's promotion, with Ruffalo praising Chou’s talents and even mentioning him on social media.
Additionally, Chou and LeBron James crossed paths when he collaborated on the design of the LeBron 17 shoes, which featured Chinese characters for "Courage" and "Perseverance," inspired by his song “Moulin Rouge” from 2006. Although Chou once followed LeBron, the basketball star has since vanished from his following list.
Bad blood or simply clear-out?
As speculations about Chou's social media moves spread, fans are divided over the beloved idol’s social media moves.
Some argue that he is merely curating his social circle, while others suggest that his personality might lead him to unfollow those who don’t follow him back.
However, many fans have come to his defense, arguing that the public is overreacting since the unfollowing does not necessarily indicate a broken relationship.
Additionally, some users suggested that the reduction of his following list could be an automated process in the app.
With motivations behind Chou's unfollowing remaining unclear, the real circumstances of their relationships may only be revealed when he chooses to clarify.
