1. Overview
Michael Huang An (黃安Huang AnChinese) is a prominent Taiwanese comedian, singer, television host, and writer. He is widely recognized for his 1993 hit song "The New Mandarin Ducks and Butterflies Dream," which served as the ending theme for the popular television series *Justice Pao* and became one of Taiwan's best-selling albums. Beyond his entertainment career, Huang An is known for his strong and controversial public persona, particularly his firm anti-Taiwan Independence stance. His actions, such as publicly identifying colleagues for perceived anti-Chinese sentiments and his role in the Chou Tzu-yu flag incident, have led to significant criticism and had a notable impact on the careers of other entertainers and on Taiwanese public opinion and electoral politics.
2. Life and career
Michael Huang An's career spans several decades, encompassing music, television hosting, and writing, alongside his public life and political expressions.
2.1. Early life and background
Huang An was born Huang Hongming (黃宏銘Huang HongmingChinese) on December 8, 1962, in Zhubei, Hsinchu County, Taiwan. His ancestral roots trace back to Zhangzhou, Fujian Province.
2.2. Education
He pursued his formal education at the National Pingtung School of Agriculture, where he completed his studies.
2.3. Early career development
Huang An began his professional journey in the entertainment industry as a rock singer. He made his debut in 1986 at an underground live club in Taipei. His first full-length album, titled *All from the Beginning* (一切從頭), was released in 1989, marking the initial stage of his recording career.
2.4. Music career
Huang An achieved significant success in his music career, particularly with his breakthrough record, *The New Mandarin Ducks and Butterflies Dream* (新鴛鴦蝴蝶夢), released in 1993. This album's title track gained immense popularity as the ending theme for the highly successful 1993 television series *Justice Pao*. The album sold one million copies in Taiwan and an impressive six million copies worldwide, solidifying its place as Taiwan's 10th best-selling album of all time.
Other notable musical contributions by Huang An include:
- "The New Mandarin Ducks and Butterflies Dream," which was also the theme song for the 1992 film *Passionate Dream* (劍霸天下).
- "Accompanying You to the End of the World" (陪你到天涯), featured as the theme song for the 1992 television series *The Sky Beyond the Loesses* (黃土地外的天空) and the 1994 television series *Young Justice Bao*.
- Save the Marriage* (救姻緣, 1994), which served as the theme song for the 1994 television series *The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants* and also appeared in *Young Justice Bao*.
- The Old Mandarin Ducks and Butterflies Dream* (舊鴛鴦蝴蝶夢, 1997).
- Sister I Love You* (1998).
- Great Compassion Mantra* (大悲咒, 1999), released for the relief efforts following the devastating 1999 Jiji earthquake in Taiwan.
- Best of Huang An* (2000).
- Affirmative Sentence* (2012).
He also released several singles throughout his career.
2.5. Television hosting
Huang An has had an extensive career as a television host. He initially hosted numerous programs in Taiwan before expanding his activities to mainland China, where he has been hosting television shows since 2001.
2.6. Writing career
In addition to his musical and television endeavors, Michael Huang An is also an author. He has written and published three books: *The Dark Side of the Moon* (1998), *Who Ruined the Entertainment Industry?* (2003), and *Who Ruined Marriage?* (2004).
3. Ideology and Stance
Michael Huang An is known for his strong and publicly expressed political views, particularly concerning cross-strait relations.
3.1. Anti-Taiwan Independence stance
Huang An is well-known for his firm and vocal opposition to Taiwan Independence. This stance has been a consistent theme in his public commentary and social media activities, often leading to controversy and drawing both support and criticism from different segments of the public. He actively uses platforms like Weibo to articulate his views.
4. Personal life
Michael Huang An's personal life includes his family. He has a daughter named Emily and a granddaughter, who is affectionately nicknamed Cutie Huang.
5. Controversies and Criticism
Michael Huang An has been involved in several significant controversies throughout his career, often stemming from his political views and public accusations, which have drawn considerable criticism and impacted the careers of others.
5.1. Targeting colleagues and career impact
Huang An has gained notoriety for publicly identifying and criticizing his colleagues in the entertainment industry for what he perceives as anti-Chinese sentiments. These public accusations, often made on social media, have been widely criticized for leading to severe consequences for the targeted individuals, including their blacklisting from mainland Chinese entertainment shows. This has adversely affected their careers and raised significant concerns about freedom of expression within the entertainment sector. Notable individuals impacted by his actions include Taiwanese singer Crowd Lu and Hong Kong actor Wong He.
5.2. Chou Tzu-yu flag incident
One of the most significant controversies involving Huang An was his role in the incident concerning Chou Tzu-yu, a K-pop singer from Taiwan. Huang An publicly criticized Chou Tzu-yu for waving a Taiwanese flag during a South Korean television program. His accusations escalated the situation, drawing widespread condemnation and leading to immense pressure on Chou Tzu-yu, who subsequently issued a public video apology just before the 2016 Taiwan election. The incident sparked widespread outrage across Taiwan, deeply affecting public opinion and becoming a significant factor in the electoral politics of the 2016 presidential election. The controversy highlighted the sensitive intersection of entertainment, national identity, and political discourse, and was widely seen as an attempt to suppress artistic expression in cross-strait relations.
6. External links
- [http://weibo.com/huangan Michael Huang An on Weibo]