Tech Influencer HTX Apologizes for Controversial Remarks, Reveals Financial Toll

He Shijie, a prominent Chinese tech influencer better known as HTX with over 12 million followers on Bilibili, publicly apologized for controversial remarks he made earlier this year about refusing to give positive reviews to ride-hailing drivers, disclosing that the incident had caused significant financial losses for his company.

The apology was made during a recent appearance on a podcast, where He addressed the widespread criticism that followed his comments in April.

"I am truly sorry for posting that Weibo update," He stated during the interview. He revealed that he had personally reached out to apologize to the driver in question, as well as to his own employees and business clients.

The controversy began on April 11, when He posted on Weibo that, in an effort to overcome what he described as a "people-pleasing personality," he would outright reject requests from ride-hailing drivers for positive reviews. He stated he would only comply if the service was exceptional.

The post quickly went viral, triggering polarized public reactions. While some supporters praised his "courage to be himself," many critics accused him of arrogance and "power bullying," contending that he was exploiting the predicament of low-income service workers. The post was later deleted.

He also revealed that he had drafted an apology at the time but chose not to publish it, fearing it would spark another wave of debate. "I was overwhelmed by the extensive discussion the post sparked, but I genuinely regret what happened," he said.

He revealed the incident caused significant financial losses for his company, Hangzhou Jihe Digital Culture Creative Co, which he fully owns. He estimated the losses at around one to two million yuan.

A native of Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, He began publishing tech-focused videos on Bilibili in 2017 and gradually built a substantial following. He rose to national prominence in 2019 with a viral review of 5G technology, a success that earned him Bilibili's "Uploader of the Year" award in 2020 and a spot among the platform's "Top 100 Uploaders" in 2021.

His influence extends beyond China. In February 2021, he interviewed Apple CEO Tim Cook, an exchange later shared on Facebook by Chinese diplomat Wang Wenbin. The two met again in March this year for a tea gathering by West Lake in Hangzhou.

He's also garnered a strong international audience. His English-language YouTube channel, HTX Studio, gained over one million subscribers within a year of launch.