Yee ranked eighth on ForbesChina 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
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 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 the young talent Jackson 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]
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.
To see his band's endorsements, please visit TFBOYS
On 28 July 2021, Yee was announced as the Nescafé brand ambassador as they shared the same attitude of "dare to think and act".[64]
Fashion
On 5 April 2021, Armani beauty made Yee as its global makeup and skincare ambassador.[65] 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.[66] On 19 January 2022, Armani beauty made Yee its Giorgio Armani Global Beauty Ambassador.[67]
On 16 April 2021, Yee was promoted to Tiffany & Co.’s global ambassador[68] 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.[69] President Anthony Ledru mentioned in the fall of 2023 that the utilization of a digital Chinese Valentine’s Day campaign with Jackson Yee had produced remarkable results as they looked for novel ways to draw in new audiences.[70]
On 1 November 2022, Yee was appointed as the global ambassador of Jaeger-LeCoultre.[71] "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."[72]
On 19 June 2024, Yee was selected as the global brand ambassador of Lindberg.[73] He embodies the brand's spirit of "design, innovation, and personalization" through his versatility and eagerness to explore new creative realms.[74]
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.[75]
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.[76]
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.[77][78]
On July 6, 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 July 16, the National Theatre of China issued a statement confirming that the recruitment process was conducted in accordance with established procedures and requirements. On July 17, Yee announced his withdrawal from the position to quell the controversy.[79][80]
^ ab"淘票票 微博". 25 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
^"易烊千玺谷爱凌出演冬奥火炬短片" [Jackson Yee and Eileen Gu are starring in the Winter Olympic Torch Relay short film]. Sina Sports 新浪体育 (in Chinese). 20 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
^"易烊千玺成为中国首位奥林匹克™️之友" [Jackson Yee becomes the first Olympic™️ Friend]. Olympics. 24 June 2024. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
^"巴黎奥运会倒计时30天，听易烊千玺讲述奥林匹克精神" [With 30 days left until the Paris Olympics, listen to Jackson Yee talk about the Olympic spirit]. 澎湃新闻 The Paper. 26 June 2024. Archived from the original on 30 June 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
^"官宣！易烊千玺担任中国森林消防公益形象大使" [Official Announcement! Jackson Yee is now the China Forest Fire Management Charity Ambassador]. 中国森林消防微博 (in Chinese). 9 November 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
^"官宣！易烊千玺正式担任中国森林消防公益形象大使" [Official announcement! Jackson Yee is now the China Forest Fire Management Charity Ambassador]. 163.com (in Chinese). 9 November 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
^"郑州市红十字会7月21日接收社会大额捐款及首批资金分配去向公示" [Red Cross Society of China Zhengzhou Branch, Public Notice on Large Donations from the Public Received on 21 July and Fund Allocation of First Batch of Funds]. 郑州红十字会 Red Cross Society of China Zhengzhou Branch (in Chinese). 22 July 2021. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
^"韩红爱心支援郑州在行动" [Han Hong Love Charity Foundation supporting Zhengzhou]. 韩红爱心慈善基金会微博 (in Chinese). 21 July 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
^韩红爱心·驰援武汉项目执行报告 [Han Hong Love Charity Foundation, Report on Aiding Wuhan] (PDF) (in Chinese). 韩红爱心慈善基金会. p. 33.
^"青春焕新"更有味"，雀巢咖啡携手易烊千玺"更敢为"". 雀巢中国 Nestlé China (in Chinese). 30 July 2021. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
^周, 慧晓婉 (8 August 2022). "《世间有她》定档9月9日" ["Hero" is set for September 9]. 新京报 (in Chinese). Retrieved 8 August 2022.
^黄, 嘉龄 (27 December 2022). "张艺谋执导电影《满江红》发海报及预告片，定档大年初一" [Directed by Zhang Yimou, Full River Red releases its poster and trailer, and is set to be in theaters on the first day of Chinese New Year]. 新京报 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2 January 2023.
In 2010, the list started to include Chinese celebrities born in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and other countries. Prior to that it only included celebrities born in mainland China.
.jpg)
