Was Keung To’s fall into sea a cry for help for Hong Kong band Mirror?

Hong Kong Cantopop boy band Mirror is navigating a challenging landscape after its meteoric rise to fame a few years ago, with its members now forced to compete with all types of online entertainment and the local showbiz scene grappling with broader headwinds, market observers have said.

They also said that, despite immense public expectations, the band’s human vulnerabilities, paired with a local industry that distinctively lacks the rigorous pre-debut training like that of K-pop idols, created unique challenges.

They needed support to grow and expand beyond their initial amateur appeal and that might have been lacking, industry observers said.

Formed through ViuTV’s reality talent show in 2018 and swiftly hailed as Cantopop’s saviours, Mirror quickly amassed a massive fan base along with loyal brand partnerships and advertisers.

But the band now faces renewed public scrutiny after popular member Keung To was rescued following his fall into the sea on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old singer later revealed he had consumed alcohol and painkillers before the accident.

Keung, along with other members such as Anson Lo Hon-ting, Edan Lui Cheuk-on and Ian Chan Cheuk-yin, blossomed into multitalented stars, excelling with their solo music careers, acting roles and variety shows, further cementing the band’s collective and individual appeal.