Sad news for all “Youth With You” fans. The show, which had BLACKPINK’s Lisa as a mentor, met an early ending right before its finale.The announcement came only a few hours after the Chinese government banned idol competition shows.Youth With You 3 being banned.Now stop recording 青春有你3 停播爱奇艺暂停录制#YWY3 #YouthWithYou3 #青春有你3 pic.twitter.com/sss9RwLLlq— 🉑️🈶️ (@nihaoyaxixi) May 4, 2021Also Read: BTS X McDonald’s Meals launched in Malaysia and ARMY says it has “the cutest paper bag”About Youth With You Series and BLACKPINK Lisa’s mentorshipThe Chinese version of the “Produce 101” series, “Youth With You” is a survival show in which trainees from different entertainment agencies compete to form a nine member group through viewers' votes. The show was in its third season before it was abruptly canceled.During its previous seasons, "Youth With You" formed two successful groups, namely, "THE9" and "UNINE".#THE9 release 1st anniversary EP 'RefleXtion'! 💿Purchase links: https://t.co/CzUxMKO3SN pic.twitter.com/eHydlzAxqF— Trending Weibo (@TrendingWeibo) May 22, 2021Known for her strict yet adorable behavior, Lisa gained popularity in China after she appeared on “Youth With You” season 2 as a mentor.Also read: WATCH: BTS x McDonald’s commercial dubbed as “iconic collab” by Guinness World Records and ARMY can’t keep calmWhy is China banning idol competitions?China bans all audition programs, cancels Youth With You3's finale https://t.co/w6sG3BXA57 pic.twitter.com/FEp1J1pA37— pannchoa (@pannchoa) May 26, 2021China has announced a ban on all idol competitions due to “Youth With You” being involved in a major milk wasting scandal. In May 2021, a video showing huge amounts of milk being discarded by fans of "Youth With You" went viral on social media.Mengniu milk products, the show's sponsor, had QR codes inside the packaging which needed to be scanned to cast a vote. Fans would purchase huge volumes of milk products so that they could vote for their favorite trainee. This sponsor strategy is also used in the survival show “Produce Camp (Chuang)”.Chinese Government cancels Idol survival show "Youth With You" right before the finale due to the milk wastage scandal. All idol survival shows now banned in China. pic.twitter.com/ajtr8IBLkD— Baddest bitch in kwangya (@Nugulino) May 27, 2021Although during “Youth With You” season 3 separate QR cards were attached for bundle packs or flavored milk drinks, in light of China’s recent legislation to ban food waste, the show faced criticism. This also led to the Chinese government banning all idol competitions.Fans Bought and Dumped Milk in Large Quantities to Support Their Idol, #iQIYI and “#YouthwithYou3” Apologizes. https://t.co/0rLIQOPDmJ pic.twitter.com/7yOzg7lEac— DramaPanda (@AsianDramaPanda) May 7, 2021Also Read: BLACKPINK’s ROSÉ to guest star on a new variety show called The Sea of Hope and BLINKS can’t contain their excitementHas “Youth With You” been canceled?pic.twitter.com/d7lwfGoAzr— iQIYI (@iQIYI) May 7, 2021“Youth With You” had been under severe criticism online ever since their scandal broke out. The mechanism of the show has received a great deal of criticism, since it encourages viewers to buy and consume bottled Mengniu milk in order to vote for their favorite trainees.As of now “Youth With You” has been canceled and will not be airing their final episode.Also Read: What is Blackpink's Rosé's net worth? Fans thrilled as K-pop singer becomes new global ambassador for Tiffany & CoFans react to the cancellation of Youth With You' with BLACKPINK's LisaThe latest season of "Youth With You" was just one episode away from ending, which has disappointed many fans. Some fans are even confused regarding the status of the ‘debut team.’Wait Youth with you got cancelled ahead of the Final ? Why didn't I hear about it until now— 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐡 🏹✨ #ENDDIRECTPROVISION 🇵🇸🇮🇪 (@BlinkSoneOrbit) May 26, 2021Is the top 9 trainees of youth with you season 3 going to debut? Or is it cancelled???— TONY \ YU JING TIAN!! (@bunbunsuho) May 21, 2021NO MORE CHUANG? NO MORE YOUTH WITH YOU?— theo - ia (@SAHAPH4P) May 27, 2021Youth With You 3's finale is officially cancelled. Ohmy i feel so bad for the remaining trainees. They're so close on their dream debut.— mm 𓆩♡𓆪 (@ygarights) May 26, 2021Do you mean Youth with you 3? 🙃 https://t.co/VpjbpTjktu— 🌙 Joy/ luo yizhou twt 🍓 (@rulanorchid) May 23, 2021Meanwhile, news broke that the finale had been recorded low-key or rehearsed on 8th May. The debut team was reportedly formed and the team name was rumored to be "NINEVER". However, iQIYI and the management of “Youth With You” announced on Weibo that the finale was officially canceled and denied that they had formed a debut team.