Singaporean actress and livestream host Joanne Peh abruptly canceled a scheduled sales broadcast in China on June 17, citing a profound lack of respect from the merchant involved. According to social media updates shared by Peh on June 17 and 18, the decision was prompted by the merchant’s decision to proceed with the livestream independently, effectively sidelining the invited creators.
Peh, a prominent figure in Singapore’s entertainment industry, noted that while she does not demand extravagant treatment, the merchant failed to provide basic professional courtesies to her team. She described the experience as a breach of the collaborative trust necessary for such high-stakes e-commerce engagements. In subsequent TikTok stories, Peh emphasized that the cancellation resulted in significant losses for her team, including time, effort, and expected income.
This incident highlights the growing professional risks faced by foreign entertainers participating in China’s competitive cross-border livestreaming sector. As many hosts are hired through agencies on commission-based models, they often find themselves with limited recourse when merchants alter agreements or fail to uphold standard workplace conduct. Neither the merchant nor the platform involved has issued a public statement regarding the incident, and it remains unclear if any compensation or rescheduling is being discussed.