Actress Joanne Peh speaks out on creator treatment after livestream cancellation

Former Mediacorp actress Joanne Peh has sparked conversations around creator treatment and professional boundaries after sharing an emotional livestream detailing why she chose to walk away from a commercial livestream collaboration in China.

In a screen-recorded livestream seen by MARKETING-INTERACTIVE, on-screen captions alleged that Peh had been scheduled to host a sales livestream in China but decided to cancel the session after what she described as disrespectful treatment towards herself and her team by a merchant.

During the livestream, Peh said the decision was not made lightly, explaining that she did not feel comfortable promoting products on behalf of a seller she did not believe in or support professionally.

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She also shed light on the work that goes into livestream selling, noting that creators often spend significant time testing products, conducting quality checks and researching brands before recommending them to their audiences.

Peh went on to criticise what she described as an apparent lack of respect shown towards creators, arguing that while her team does not expect lavish treatment or special privileges, basic courtesy and professionalism should be a given in any commercial partnership.

According to Peh, creators are often willing to be flexible and accommodating when working with merchants, but that should not come at the expense of mutual respect.

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out for more information.

Peh's comments come amid broader conversations around creator welfare and professional standards in the industry. Last month, influencer marketing platform Partipost faced scrutiny after creators across Southeast Asia alleged delayed payments, with some claiming outstanding dues dated back to 2024.

While Partipost acknowledged that some payouts had been delayed, founder and CEO Jonathan Eg said the company does not intentionally withhold payments for completed and approved work.

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