Chen Yi weighs in on Alice Ko's yoga profit dispute, suggests societal bias

A profit-sharing dispute between Taiwanese influencer Alice Ko and her Nepali yoga instructor, Raj Karmayogi, continues to escalate, with both parties recently exchanging public statements regarding a "1% profit" claim. The controversy has drawn widespread commentary, including from fellow influencer Chen Yi.

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Although I don't like Alice Ko, I support her this time.

Chen Yi observed that many online comments preface their support for Ko with disclaimers like, "Although I don't like Alice Ko, I support her this time." She questioned the basis for the public's dislike of Ko, stating that Ko has not engaged in illegal activities or outright falsehoods. Chen Yi suggested that Ko's "controversial" reputation, while often a point of criticism, is actually a valuable asset in today's media environment, making her stand out.

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Is it that the society itself dislikes women who are good-looking, smart, and have business acumen?

Chen Yi pointed to past controversies involving Ko, such as promoting a liver and gallbladder cleansing method that doctors corrected, her public support for former politician Ko Wen-je, and accusations of flaunting wealth through overseas property investments. Chen Yi downplayed these incidents, suggesting they are not major offenses. She posited that Ko's "fiery" personality means she faces backlash for actions that others might not, leading her to question if society inherently dislikes women who are attractive, intelligent, and possess business acumen.

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Men might feel inferior and dislike her because she is too strong, while women might dislike her because they feel they don't measure up.

"Men might feel inferior and dislike her because she is too strong, while women might dislike her because they feel they don't measure up," Chen Yi speculated. She praised Ko's response to the current public relations crisis as "textbook," noting that it effectively garnered attention and served as a renewed marketing opportunity for her yoga courses. Chen Yi concluded that if Ko is disliked for being too excellent, then she should embrace it.

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This public relations crisis, she responded with textbook-level execution, perfectly harvesting a wave of traffic and seizing the opportunity to re-market her yoga courses again. I think it's very impressive!