Music boot camp reality shows are all the rage in China and South Korea, but unfortunately for one participant, that was not necessarily a good thing.
Vladislav Ivanov, 27, who speaks fluent Mandarin, was working on the Chinese reality boy band TV show Produce Camp 2021 as a translator for two friends. This is when he was approached by producers who asked if he was interested in joining the show because of his looks.
Ivanov, a part-time model, says they asked if he'd "like to try a new life" and he agreed, but seemed to instantly regret that decision. After giving half-hearted performances and asking viewers to vote him off the show for weeks, Ivanov was finally granted his wish after three months – and making it all the way to the final round of the show.
Produced by Chinese tech company Tencent, Produce Camp 2021 focuses on 90 local and overseas contestants vying for their spot in an international boy band that would comprise 11 participants chosen from the show.
Ivanov gave himself the stage name of Lelush, taking his name from Lelouch Lamperouge, a character from his favourite Japanese anime series Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion.
Early on, his despondent attitude about being on the show seemed to attract fans even more. He repeatedly said he didn't want to be in the contest and begged the audience to stop voting for him so that he could go home.
“Becoming a member of a boy band is not my dream as I can’t sing and dance,” he said in Mandarin on the show. “I hope the judges won’t support me. While the others want to get an A, I want to get an F as it stands for freedom.”
During the first round, while other contestants gave impressive, passionate performances, he performed a half-hearted and rushed Russian rap called Jackpot.
Yet his performance was a hit with the audience who seemed to love his reluctant and bored attitude while rapping. "Please don't make me go to the finals, I'm tired," he said in a later episode.
After making it to the final, surviving 10 episodes over the course of three months, he grumpily ate a lemon on camera, and said he hoped people would not support him again. “I’m not kidding,” he said.
Ivanov was unable to leave the show of his own accord as he had signed a contract which stipulated he would have to pay a fine if he breached it.
He was eventually voted out in the final episode, which was broadcast on Saturday. A Weibo hashtag related to his exit was viewed more than 180 million times and reposted more than 59,000 times, including by the Russian Embassy in Beijing. "Congrats, have a good rest," the embassy said.
While some thought that Ivanov's appearance was part of a publicity stunt to boost attention to the show, his friend and agency executive Ivan Wang, who hired him to translate, said otherwise.
"He declined repeated participation requests by the director of Produce Camp 2021. He just said yes after getting bored on the island. He thought joining the show might help his introverted personality."
The years Ramadan fell in May
Red Joan
Director: Trevor Nunn
Starring: Judi Dench, Sophie Cookson, Tereza Srbova
Rating: 3/5 stars
Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
RESULTS
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
Roll of honour
Who has won what so far in the West Asia Premiership season?
Western Clubs Champions League - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Bahrain
Dubai Rugby Sevens - Winners: Dubai Exiles; Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons
West Asia Premiership - Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons; Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Premiership Cup - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Dubai Exiles
West Asia Cup - Winners: Bahrain; Runners up: Dubai Exiles
West Asia Trophy - Winners: Dubai Hurricanes; Runners up: DSC Eagles
Final West Asia Premiership standings - 1. Jebel Ali Dragons; 2. Abu Dhabi Harlequins; 3. Bahrain; 4. Dubai Exiles; 5. Dubai Hurricanes; 6. DSC Eagles; 7. Abu Dhabi Saracens
Fixture (UAE Premiership final) - Friday, April 13, Al Ain – Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
