The rising fame of a young boy has opened many opportunities for education and growth, but it also carries significant challenges. The story of 15-year-old Phạm Tiểu Cần (from Vĩnh Phong County, Jiangxi Province, China) follows this motif.
Years ago, Phạm Tiểu Cần gained notoriety for his striking resemblance to Alibaba founder Jack Ma. Even Ma himself acknowledged the similarities in their appearances.
Phạm Tiểu Cần – the Jack Ma lookalike
For many years, he was considered a “golden child” of financial success, but his recent appearances online have sparked renewed discussions about the exploitation of children in families and the entertainment industry in China.
In a video recorded not long ago, “mini Jack Ma” was seen on a busy street in Vĩnh Phong County, Jiangxi Province, southern China. The situation became alarming when people noticed his distressed expression while begging for money. One passerby, who was filming the scene, noted that the boy was clearly in distress: “Look, ‘mini Jack Ma’ is begging for money on this street.”
According to The Paper, following the clip going viral, a local government official revealed that Phạm Tiểu Cần’s family forced him to beg and that “mini Jack Ma” – a boy with severe cognitive impairments – had been subjected to his family’s demands. Another official stated to The Paper that Tiểu Cần’s family “did not face financial difficulties” because they received a monthly allowance of 2,400 yuan (over $350).
Phạm Tiểu Cần seen begging for money on a street in Jiangxi Province. Image: Weibo.
On January 17, the brother of “mini Jack Ma,” Hoàng Tân Long, along with Tiểu Cần, apologized publicly in a video uploaded to Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok). The brother explained that Tiểu Cần had been left to fend for himself while he was at work and could not take care of him. Meanwhile, he reiterated that their situation was not dire as “mini Jack Ma” was already 20 years old and still depended on them for care due to his health issues and cognitive impairments.
Previously, Tiểu Cần had gained recognition through the name “mini Jack Ma” after his brother first shared a photo of him online in 2015. The image spread quickly, reaching Jack Ma himself, who commented that he felt as though he was being “reflected.” This attention led to Tiểu Cần’s sudden rise to fame, attracting individuals from all over the country who wanted to take pictures with him.
In 2017, the boy was taken in by businessman Lưu Trường Giang, who raised him in the northern province of Hà Bắc, over 1,000 kilometers away from his hometown in Jiangxi. This businessman provided Tiểu Cần with a lavish lifestyle while also setting up a special fund to support his development. Moreover, Lưu Trường Giang also provided the family of “mini Jack Ma” with 10,000 yuan (over $1,400) annually as a living stipend.
The first mention of ‘mini Jack Ma’ in 2015 when his brother shared a photo of him online. Image: Weibo.
By the end of 2020, the brother had opened four Douyin accounts under the name “mini Jack Ma” and began posting videos about Phạm Tiểu Cần’s daily life. In these videos, Tiểu Cần was shown eating simple meals and looking as if he were under strict care. Although he appeared to be well-cared for by the family, in reality, Phạm Tiểu Cần paid little attention to his studies, focusing instead on livestreaming to earn money, largely neglecting his education.
At the beginning of 2021, Tiểu Cần was returned to his hometown after Lưu Trường Giang terminated the contract with the family and deleted all of Tiểu Cần’s Douyin accounts. A year later, Tiểu Cần was once again in the spotlight when his brother began posting videos about him. Since then, the Chinese online community has raised concerns regarding the family’s treatment and the exploitation of Tiểu Cần in the entertainment industry.
“This is a severe case of child exploitation, and the boy’s life is being ruined by his parents and greedy individuals,” one netizen commented.
“Why do we have to call the boy ‘mini Jack Ma’? Just call him Phạm Tiểu Cần, and that should be enough,” another user stated. According to this user, the very nickname “mini Jack Ma” is exploitative and undermines the dignity of Phạm Tiểu Cần.
“Whatever the circumstances, the upbringing of this child depends on the education he receives. His parents ought to provide him with a more suitable educational environment,” shared a fan of “mini Jack Ma.”
Source: SCMP
