A dance performed to express thanks to frontline pandemic workers—nicknamed “Big Whites”—titled “Let Me Say Thank You” (《听我说谢谢你》) has gone viral on platforms like Weibo and short video apps. In these videos, people bow to the pandemic workers (mostly those conducting COVID testing), accompanied by the background music “Let Me Say Thank You - Li Xinrong,” and then perform a graceful hand dance to show their appreciation for the workers’ efforts.
At first, this method of expressing gratitude received many likes online. However, as more people began to imitate it and the videos spread virally, public sentiment shifted. The workers who should be respected gradually became props in staged videos, and the scenes of gratitude began to feel like a disguised form of forced participation. Public emotions evolved from finding it novel and heartwarming to feeling awkward and annoyed. Media outlets and netizens pointed out that COVID testing is a race against time, and healthcare workers already have heavy workloads. Lining them up to watch dance performances only adds to their physical and emotional burden. Some of the workers have also spoken out. Popular Weibo user “江宁婆婆” wrote, as a frontline worker: “It is touching, yes—but also honestly a hassle. Just get your test done and move along quickly—that’s the biggest support.”
Internet