According to QQ, Zhang Han recently broke his silence to explain why he had disappeared from social media and stopped acting for the past three years. Previously, the public speculated that the actor was secretly banned from the industry. However, Zhang Han clarified that he voluntarily stepped back to reset his mental state and recover from a bone fracture sustained in an accident.
Zhang Han shared that his current condition is stable. He chose to withdraw from the spotlight to reflect on his career path and seek a new direction. He expressed a desire to further his learning and deliver better-quality projects. The “Boss & Me” actor also revealed that his bone fracture required a long period of rest and recovery.
However, Zhang Han’s explanation did not elicit much sympathy from the public. Many netizens felt that he was trying to gain pity. On the contrary, many brought up his past controversies and argued that he lacked moral character and should remain banned from the industry.
In the past, Zhang Han caused a serious accident while driving. His luxury car dragged a traffic police officer, resulting in severe injury. The incident was caught on surveillance footage, but Zhang Han’s side compensated the victim and suppressed the scandal.
Additionally, “Gentlemen Attention Please“, a drama written, produced and starred in by Zhang Han, received intense backlash from viewers. The show was flooded with one-star reviews and ended up with a dismal rating of 2.2/10—the lowest in history—with more than 27,000 people rating it.
According to Sina, the drama was criticized for having vulgar and offensive content, including scenes where male characters stare at female characters’ chests or party at the pool in revealing outfits. The male characters often made jokes about women’s bodies and included sexually suggestive dialogue.
One particularly controversial scene showed the male lead Tong Yu (played by Zhang Han) supporting the female lead Xu Duo (played by Wang Xiaochen) by pulling on her underwear. The scene was deemed tactless and a failed attempt at humor.
Sina commented that Zhang Han has had a streak of misfortunes in recent years. Several of his self-produced dramas “The Rhapsody of a Summer Dream“, “Braveness of the Ming” and “The Legendary Tycoon” were affected by China’s restrictions on Korean artists and thus were not broadcast.
His other projects “The Classic of Mountains and Seas“, “Here to Heart“, “One Boat One World” and “A Love Story: You Are the Greatest Happiness of My Life” all failed to make a mark. In March 2021, “A Love Story: You Are the Greatest Happiness of My Life” was rejected by major streaming platforms in China, forcing the production team to create their own platform to release the show.
A string of failed projects has severely damaged Zhang Han’s reputation. Once a top heartthrob in Chinese entertainment known for hits like “Meteor Shower” and “Boss & Me“, he is now seen as past his prime, with both his fame and appearance no longer what they once were.