It has been more than two months since Chinese business tycoon Jack Ma was seen in public. The Alibaba head has reportedly been under the strict scrutiny of the Chinese government and didn’t even attend final episode of his own talent show, Africa’s Business Heroes, in November, reports NDTV.
Jack Ma has been absent from social media as well. His last post was made on October 10, 2020. According to The Indian Express, he “made a candid speech criticising China’s regulators and its state-owned banks” after which he was “conspicuously” absent from the talent show, from any of the promotional videos, and from the judging webpage.
In November 2020, Alibaba and Ant Group’s $34 billion USD initial public offering (IPO) was suspended abruptly by the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Shortly after, Jack Ma called the country’s banks “pawn shops”, reports The Business Insider.
People online have been speculating the situation with many questioning, “Where is Jack Ma.”
hey quick question where’s Jack Ma?
— Geoff Lewis (@GeoffLewisOrg) January 3, 2021
How is anybody talking about anything other than Jack Ma’s disappearance?
— Phil Bak 🎩 (@philbak1) January 4, 2021
Jack Ma is kidnapped by the Chinese Government 🤔.
— Rohith. (@rohithsque) January 4, 2021
If Jack Ma isn’t okay, Alibaba won’t stand a chance as a long-term partner to American commerce brands.
— Web Smith (@web) January 4, 2021
He's been missing for > 2 months?!
Really shows the difference in China v. U.S media.
If Bezos missed lunch it'd be on the cover of the NYT the next morning. https://t.co/93O1KDPwzS
— Austin Rief ☕️ (@austin_rief) January 4, 2021
#JackMa contributed his life to support China and its operations abroad but just one criticism, ONE CRITICISM and he has been ‘disappeared’ by communist China. And their handlers here in India preach us about FOE. pic.twitter.com/SHJsr3JIrR
— Monica (@TrulyMonica) January 4, 2021
A guy worth 60 Billion just disappeared one day…. Amazing, isn't it… #JackMa
— Gappistan Radio (@GappistanRadio) January 4, 2021
Other billionaires who once criticized the Xi-Jinping reign rn:#jackmamissing #JackMa https://t.co/VWzndS6NXz pic.twitter.com/hPsVeOBxIP
— MsParacetamol (@PreetiS_1530) January 4, 2021
Chinese gov to Jack Ma.#JackMa pic.twitter.com/9YX5JvnP1X
— 𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕟𝕪メ (@_Zakeera) January 4, 2021
#JackMa
Whole World: Where is Jack ma??Chinese government who have detained him: pic.twitter.com/50uuJ9yg0m
— Saad (@saadaakbani) January 4, 2021
We hope Jack Ma is okay, wherever he is!