BEIJING — The reality TV ordeal of a Russian who joined a Chinese boy band show by accident — and made it to the finals despite urging fans to vote him off — has finally ended after nearly three months.
Vladislav Ivanov, a 27-year-old from Vladivostok, was kicked out of the Produce Camp 2021 on Saturday after viewers ignored his pleas to leave and backed him all the way to the final.
Ivanov, who speaks fluent Mandarin, originally joined the show as a Chinese teacher.
But he said he was invited to sign on as a contestant after the directors noticed his good looks.
“They asked if I’d like to try a new life,” Ivanov said during the show.
He appeared to regret his decision a…
Keep on reading: Russian man ‘trapped’ on Chinese reality TV show finally voted out