A quartet of singer Jay Chou lookalikes in China has produced a video supporting the pop idol’s new role as a delivery brand ambassador, sending social media into a frenzy of laughter.
On December 18, the Chinese delivery giant Meituan unveiled Chou as its brand ambassador following their high-profile partnership with actress Liu Yifei.
Known as the “King of Mandopop”, the Taiwanese singer-songwriter has amassed more than 23 million followers on mainland social media thanks to his musical innovation and diverse styles.
In Meituan’s official promotional video, Chou uses his signature “Jay-style” Taiwanese tone, exclaiming, “Wow, that was fast,” to emphasise the service’s speed of delivery.
In another clip, he orders milk tea on a chilly winter day and it arrives piping hot.
Meituan’s poster also touts “one-on-one Express Delivery”, claiming to cut delivery times by an average of 20 minutes.
A video featuring four Chou lookalikes backing the singer’s new commercial role also went viral.
In the clip, the imitators don yellow delivery uniforms and perfectly mimic Chou’s gestures and voice.
One of them, actor Yong Jielun, says: “I heard Meituan, endorsed by Jay Chou, delivers super fast.”
Wedding singer Juan Lun adds: “Can they beat all four of us combined?”
Bar singer Mo Du Jielun chimes in: “Jay, we are giving your concert tickets back.”
Then, pancake vendor Zhou Binglun wraps things up with: “Jay, no need to deliver it yourself.”
They then pull out a red banner and shout: “Your delivery, the Jays will bring it to you.”
While not an official Meituan release, the video quickly gained traction, seen as a spontaneous fan tribute.
Of the quartet, Zhou Binglun, also known as “Porridge and Pancake Jay”, is the most popular.
Known for his humble, hardworking nature, the man, whose real name is Bai Xianying, runs a pancake stall and has 3 million followers online.
Yong Jielun, known for films like Kung Fu League, has also worked as a body double and variety show participant.
Meanwhile, Mo Du Jielun, a dedicated fan of Chou from Shanghai, runs a Chou-themed bar and teaches music.
Rounding out the group, Juan Lun, a singer from Henan province in central China, regularly performs Chou’s hits at weddings.
Their video has taken the internet by storm, with related topics attracting more than 140 million views on mainland social media.
One netizen said: “God must have drawn countless drafts when creating Jay Chou. This is so funny, I cannot tell which one is the real Chou any more.”
Another said: “Meituan really got a bargain. Originally they only hired one Jay Chou, but now they have five.”
However, a third person had concerns: “Their video was not authorised by Jay Chou. We need to stay rational and respectful and not take jokes about celebrities too far.”
At the time of writing, neither Meituan nor Chou’s team have commented.
The real singer previously addressed his imitators on social media, saying: “The multiverse Jays are real. They bring positive energy and humour to society.” -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
