Accused of denigrating a former colleague to prove loyalty? Oriental Selection (东方甄选) streamer Lele responds

Allegations ignite on social feeds

It has been reported that short videos and screenshots circulating on Chinese social media accused livestreamer Lele of publicly denigrating a former colleague in a bid to demonstrate loyalty to her team at Oriental Selection (东方甄选). The posts prompted swift public criticism and reignited questions about workplace culture inside China’s burgeoning livestream e‑commerce sector. Oriental Selection, the popular livestreaming arm spun out of New Oriental (新东方) that helped turn teachers into shopping influencers, sits at the center of the controversy.

Lele says clips are out of context

Reportedly, Lele responded publicly — via a livestream and a brief statement — denying any intent to smear a former colleague and saying the circulated clips were taken out of context. She is said to have welcomed an internal review and urged followers not to rush to judgment while the company investigates. Oriental Selection has reportedly acknowledged receipt of complaints and said it is looking into the matter; neither side has released a full transcript or legal filing as of now.

Why this matters beyond gossip

Why does this story matter? Livestream personalities are the public face of a fast‑growing commercial model that mixes entertainment, education and retail. Reputation can translate directly into sales — and into regulatory attention. With Chinese regulators and the broader public increasingly sensitive to influencer behavior and corporate governance, even small scandals can have outsized commercial and political consequences.

Questions ahead

Will a clarification and internal probe defuse the backlash? Or will the episode prompt deeper scrutiny of how platforms manage talent and disputes? For Western readers unfamiliar with China’s ecosystem: Oriental Selection helped popularize livestream commerce by turning educators into major online sellers, and controversies like this test the sector’s resilience as it professionalizes under greater public and regulatory scrutiny.