Property tycoon's stutter endears him to fans  

潘石屹央视受访谈大V数次口吃 网友：小潘颤抖了

Photo: screenshot from CCTV

(ECNS) -- A video of the property tycoon Pan Shiyi's TV interview has become a hit, as many netizens noted his stutter and said, "He is cute."

In an interview by China Central Television (CCTV), Pan, chairman of Soho China Ltd., expressed his opinions on Internet celebrities' upholding virtue, with an occasional stutter.

"Tens of millions of netizens are concerned about your forwarding, and what's more, there are also fans con-con-concerned about your followers, … I think a Net celebrity who has a huge number of fo-fo-followers should shoulder more so-so-social responsibilities, and can't forward at ran-ran-random," he said.

Pan later mocked himself on Weibo, saying that he called a friend for suggestions before the interview, and the friend advised he not do it. But, Pan said, it was too late, the journalists had already come and were only 20 meters away from him.

Pan also mentioned the "Pan currency" incident in 2011, a term coined by netizens after he said Apple should offer cheaper versions of smartphones, at 1,000 yuan each. They asked Pan to offer his properties at 1,000 yuan per square meter.

A netizen said the mocking was not mean-spirited, and the stutter can't hide Pan's quick mind.

Pan is active on Weibo, where he has over 16 million followers, and he has urged Internet celebrities to uphold legal and moral rules as well as promote social trust.