It is well said that when there is a “collective concentration” focused on an object, the object becomes a source of energy. So, an idol, being the centre of attention, does not just entertain the fans. He or she must give them bits of his or her soul for mass munching in order to keep the idol himself or herself, as well as the crazy fans, alive and “together”!
Keung To (姜濤) is right now the hottest young singing idol in Hong Kong. He is 27 years old. Keung made his debut in showbiz when he was 19. He took part in a TV singing contest, won and turned out to be super popular.
Keung is extremely alternative. He studied up to Grade 7 in secondary school and is not well-educated. His singing techniques are superficial. When he speaks, all kinds of problems appear like relaxed pronunciation, glottal stop and slurring words. He is surely handsome but a bit chubby. He was obese in his teens. Coming from a grassroots new immigrant family, he, being the only son, has to support his stay-at-home mom and father who used to be a cook. Keung is sincere and honest, but not able to articulate in front of reporters. Regardless of all the negative factors, he can mobilize thousands and thousands of die-hard fans who always give Keung unwavering support.
On 30 April 2026, thousands of Keung’s fans gathered outside Sogo Department Store in Causeway Bay in order to celebrate the birthday of Keung. Causeway Bay is a high-traffic area crowded with people. The obvious reason why the crazy fans did not choose a quiet place is that they wanted to create a blustering show of Keung’s strength and popularity. They also placed an ad about Keung on double-deck trams. Some booked the wall billboards there to express their love towards Keung. Fanchants and flowers were of course inevitable. The celebration caused severe traffic congestion and great inconvenience to the pedestrians. Some shops called for the Police intervention so as to control the situation. The incident drew widespread public criticism and backlash! Yet, the occurrence demonstrates once again the fanatic obsession of many fans, especially female ones, with Keung To in Hong Kong.
Critics start to wonder why an otherwise unimpressive young man manages to become a hot idol. Some even label Keung as a “loser idol”. It is suggested that this apparently weak and flawed idol uniquely offers sincere authenticity, warm vulnerability, and encouraging relatability to his fans whereas most other idols in the entertainment world are too perfect and remote. Keung fosters deep emotional connections to his followers by being approachable rather than like an untouchable star. He often exhibits socially awkward or nerdy tendencies and such are seen as endearing to his fans.
The success of Keung To as an alternative idol should be an inspiration to another plump female idol Joyce Cheng (欣宜). She has been working very hard on a weight-loss journey for many years. Such a strong desire for physical soldiering is totally unnecessary!
In the dog-eat-dog reality, some weaker look up to the not strong too, and this is human. Perhaps some fans of Keung may be losers. This definitely does not apply to the large number of mommy fans of Keung. It is said that some of these fans are cougars in search of a toy boy!
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