Li Jiaqi Choked Up Announcing Possible Absence from Livestream for a While, Denies Retirement

Emotional moment on Taobao Live

Top beauty livestreamer Li Jiaqi (李佳琦) grew visibly emotional during the Taobao Live (淘宝直播) gala on April 8, saying he felt grateful and a little overwhelmed after a decade on stage. “I did a dream for ten years,” he said, choking up as he thanked the first generation of anchors and the fans who made his rise possible. He also told the audience he might be absent from the livestream room for a period — a remark that briefly sparked speculation about his future.

Clarification: not retiring, filming a new show

It has been reported that internet rumors of a retirement spread after his comments, but Li moved quickly to deny them on Weibo (微博). He wrote that he is not retiring and explained the absence would be for filming: he initially misspoke about “two quarters” and meant “two months,” adding that the first month’s shooting has already wrapped. Reportedly the project he referred to is the youth overseas-business reality show Paris Partners (《巴黎合伙人》), co-produced by Hunan TV (湖南卫视), Mango TV (芒果TV) and Xiaomang E‑commerce (小芒电商).

Why it matters

Li is one of China’s most commercially influential livestream hosts; a temporary absence matters to brands, platforms and viewers alike. Live‑stream e‑commerce remains a major marketing force in China, and anchors like Li help set trends and drive sales. Retire? Not yet. But his move into television and cross‑platform projects underlines a broader trend: big anchors are diversifying beyond the livestream room.