TikTok ban drama mistakes “normal guy from Vancouver” as RedNote CEO
TikTok users in the United States are flocking to alternative social media platform RedNote as a potential ban looms in the country, and a viral video welcoming them to the Chinese app turned out to be a creation of a Vancouver user.
In the original TikTok video, which has been widely shared and seen millions of times, a man wearing a black hat, gray sweater and glasses introduces folks to Xiaohongshu as it’s known in China.
“Hey guys, just wanted to make a quick video about Xiaohongshu introducing you guys to this platform,” he says before explaining that Chinese users mainly use RedNote to find suggestions for restaurants, shopping, and makeup.
“TikTok refugees” made the RedNote the most downloaded app on the Apple US App store and on Google Play. This comes in the leadup to a January 19 deadline for TikTok’s parent company ByteDance either selling its American operations or being banned in the country.
@nirvanaqueens The CEO has welcomed Americans to their printrest/instagram app. #fyp #rednote #tiktokban #tiktokrefugees #tiktokusa #usa #usaban #ban #newapp #app #viral #viralvideo #china #chinatiktok #xiaohongshu #xiaohongshuapp #chinesetiktok #chinese #china ♬ original sound – nirvanaqueens
Many new RedNote users believed that the man was the CEO of RedNote, letting them know that they were free to speak English and post English content.
“There are a lot more English-speaking people on this platform nowadays, and we need to build this community,” the man explained in the video.
Love the CEO of Red Note! 😭😭😭 He has good energy! #rednote pic.twitter.com/n5y0tbsCVq
— Josh P. Jackson (@JoshJay990) January 14, 2025
RedNote’s CEO welcoming Americans to the app is so cute and so Asian. 🤣💖🥹
— joanna (@harshtagJM) January 13, 2025
There’s only one problem: the star of the video was not Charlwin Mao Wenchao, CEO of Xiaohongshu, which is based in Shanghai. He was Jerry from Vancouver.
In a follow-up video on RedNote and shared on TikTok, Dani and Jerry clarified that he was not the company’s CEO.
“He is not the CEO of RedNote,” Dani exclaims, gesturing at Jerry.
“I’m just another normal guy in Vancouver,” he adds with a laugh. “Thank you for all the comments, but I am not the CEO of RedNote.
“Whatever I said in that original welcoming video stays true. I really hope you guys can enjoy this platform.
@fakeceorealgf Hey guys! It’s really us – we woke up to find that apparently Jerry went viral as the accidental CEO of red note so we recorded this reaction/clarification video to diffuse the confusion 😂 He is flattered but also very embarrassed by how this misunderstanding came about. We decided to reupload this video natively on TikTok (this is our only account) to spread the word – if you see this video, please help us share it for the people 😂 From Jerry: I stand by what I saw in my original welcome video. For all the TikTok refugees coming over to Red Note, we stand with you all to make your voice heard! I am flattered by all the kind and polite comments and hope the TikTok refugees find a new home and friends to discover a new side of Chinese culture and community ❤️❤️🇨🇳 #rednote #rednoteceo #tiktokrefugee #xiaohongshu #xhs #littleredbook #redbook #rednotemigration #rednotewelcome #accidentalceo #tiktok #china ♬ original sound – FakeCEORealGF
Jerry added that he thinks the whole situation is very funny and that the couple will continue to create videos that show the daily life of the intercultural couple.
“What makes this story unique is how it highlights the power of online culture and humor to turn anyone into an accidental internet celebrity,” Dani told Daily Hive in an email. “It’s also a hilarious look at how misunderstandings can bring people together in unexpected ways and how the “Red Note CEO” is actually a regular dude from Vancouver.”
“As Chinese-Canadians who are on the Xionghongshu platform, we find this Tiktok migration fascinating and blends our cultural background of ethnic Chinese and North American Chinese.”
Canada announced in November that it is banning TikTok after a “rigorous” national security review, though TikTok said that it will challenge the decision in court.
The government ordered a wind-up of TikTok Technology Canada, Inc., which doesn’t mean TikTok will be removed or blocked in the country, block the average TikTok user’s access to the app, or hinder their ability to make content.
Canada removed TikTok from its federal employees’ government-issued mobile devices in 2023. UBC also encouraged students to uninstall TikTok over privacy and safety concerns the same year.
Are you worried about a potential TikTok ban in Canada? Have you tried out RedNote yet? Let us know in the comments.