A Chinese tech influencer who built a career on racking up likes is now losing them fast — after declaring he’d stop giving five-star ratings to ride-hailing drivers.

He Shijie, better known by his account “Teacher, My Name is He” online, sparked a social media backlash this week after posting that he’d no longer hand out top marks unless a driver’s service was “genuinely excellent.”

In a now-deleted Weibo post on April 11, the 26-year-old said he’d previously agreed to drivers’ requests for top marks but ignored them later. Going forward, he wrote, he’d simply say: “Sorry, I don’t want to,” and get out of the car — a move he described as “practicing honesty and courage.”

With more than 12 million followers on streaming platform Bilibili, He is one of China’s most recognizable tech influencers — but his comment struck many as tone-deaf, especially amid growing public sympathy for overworked gig workers for whom customer ratings can make or break daily income.

A screenshot of He Shijie interviewing Apple CEO Tim Cook. From Weibo

He first shot to fame in 2019 with a viral video testing China’s newly launched 5G network, and later gained wider recognition after interviewing Apple CEO Tim Cook in 2021. His Bilibili channel features gadget reviews, design experiments, and tech explainers aimed at younger audiences.

While a few applauded He’s push for “honest communication,” most found his stance out of touch.

“He’s free to rate however he wants,” one commenter wrote on Weibo, “but there’s no need to frame it like a moral crusade.” Another added: “Refusing a boss takes real courage. Refusing someone beneath you just feels smug.”

As the backlash spread, He lost more than 21,000 followers on Bilibili — the very platform where his career first took off.

Critics also pointed out the irony: a creator who thrives on likes and algorithm-driven engagement publicly discouraging others from distributing symbolic support. In response, hundreds of thousands stopped liking his videos.

In recent years, public sympathy has tilted toward China’s working class — especially gig workers, who face long hours, low margins, and mounting pressure. Influencers like Li Jiaqi, among China’s biggest e-commerce livestreamers, and Yang Yue, a top content creator on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, have already faced backlash for out-of-touch remarks, and He’s comments now join the list.

With ratings playing a crucial role in gig workers’ livelihoods, anything less than five stars, even for decent service, can cut into income. And with few ways to contest poor ratings, goodwill remains their best defense. In response, a state media commentary called on ride-hailing platforms to adopt more practical, effective safeguards to protect drivers from arbitrary or punitive reviews.

Editor: Apurva.

(Header image: A promotional photo of He Shijie for his social media account, “Teacher, My Name is He.” From Weibo)