Chinese Actress Meng Ziyi Readdresses “The Untamed” Screen Time Controversy
Chinese actress Meng Ziyi has reignited discussion around one of the most damaging controversies of her career, claims that she paid for more screen time in “The Untamed” (2019) and was indirectly linked to a tragic on-set incident. In a new Weibo post dated April 10, the actress firmly reiterated her innocence and addressed the public backlash that has followed her for nearly five years.
A Scandal That Refused to Fade
At the height of The Untamed’s popularity, Meng Ziyi, who played the role of Wen Qing, was accused of investing money into the production in exchange for more screen time. An anonymous insider claimed her demands led to two additional filming days, rushed set changes, and the re-shooting of scenes, which allegedly caused a fatal fire that killed two lighting crew members.
The rumor sparked outrage, branding Meng as an untalented actress who abused her position and disrupted the production. Online sentiment against her turned harsh, with critics accusing her of having low emotional intelligence, being manipulative, and ultimately responsible for the deaths of two crew members.
Meng Ziyi’s Response: “The Script I Got Is the Script I Played”
Though she initially denied the claims in 2022, her words were largely ignored due to her then-limited popularity. With the recent success of her drama “Blossom” and upcoming projects, Meng Ziyi has found renewed visibility, prompting her to clarify the controversy once again.
In her latest Weibo statement, she wrote,
“Thank you for the reminder. I’ve deleted the project from my profile. This interview was from a year ago, but for some reason, it’s resurfacing and upsetting people again. I truly regret that. But I must say this again, I, Meng Ziyi, have never paid for more screen time. The script I received was exactly what I performed. That’s the truth, no matter how many times you insult me, the answer won’t change.”
Fans were quick to defend her, pointing out that Meng Ziyi appeared in only 13 minutes across 10 episodes of “The Untamed,” disproving the rumor that she received an artificially inflated role.
Career on the Rebound
Following years of controversy, Meng Ziyi’s reputation appears to be on the mend. She recently joined the cast of “Blossoms of Power” and has two completed dramas, “Peach Blossoms Twisting the Land” and “San Xian Mi Hui”, awaiting release. Since debuting in 2016, Meng has often been praised for her suitability in historical dramas, which helped her secure multiple roles despite previous setbacks.
With her rising profile and public support growing, the question remains: will Meng Ziyi finally clear her name for good, or will this controversy continue to shadow her career? Only time, and her future performances, will tell.
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