As competition to stand out at the Cannes Film Festival grows fiercer every year, two Chinese celebrities are now facing criticism after allegedly breaking festival rules in an attempt to attract attention.

The 2026 Cannes Film Festival is currently underway in France and has welcomed many stars from the Chinese entertainment industry. Not long after Lay Zhang and several lesser-known celebrities reportedly faced criticism for causing disorder on opening day, actresses Qi Wei and Yuan Shanshan became the latest names to spark controversy online.

Clips showing Cannes security staff warning and reportedly urging the two actresses to move along the red carpet quickly spread across social media platforms.

Qi Wei attended Cannes on the festival’s third day and appeared on the red carpet wearing a dress featuring a conservative front design with an open-back detail that highlighted part of her bare back.

However, while standing near the staircase area of the red carpet, Qi Wei reportedly spent too much time posing and interacting with cameras, leading a security staff member to personally approach and ask her to move forward. Faced with the awkward situation, the actress reportedly laughed nervously before quickly leaving the area.

Meanwhile, Yuan Shanshan was reportedly seen being urged off the red carpet on both days she attended the event for similarly spending too long posing without moving.

She also drew attention for allegedly ignoring Cannes’ stated dress code emphasizing elegance and formality by appearing in a more revealing outfit during her Day 3 appearance.

Despite her bold styling choices, international media outlets reportedly showed little interest in photographing the actress. Event photos circulating online appeared to show many photographers lowering their cameras while Yuan Shanshan posed.

Who Are Qi Wei and Yuan Shanshan?

Qi Wei, born in 1984, is known for works such as Beauty’s Rival in Palace, April Star, and Coming Back. In 2024, she appeared on the hit reality show Sisters Who Make Waves and became one of the most popular contestants.

Qi Wei has long been praised for her doll-like visuals and pale skin. However, she also faced public concern last year after appearing noticeably different following extreme weight loss and alleged cosmetic procedures, leading to harsh online comments about her appearance.

In her personal life, Qi Wei is married to actor Lee Seung Hyun. The couple held their wedding in Las Vegas in September 2014 after a romantic proposal in Saipan. They remain highly active in Chinese entertainment.

Yuan Shanshan, born in 1987, was once considered one of the standout beauties of the Beijing Film Academy’s 2005 class. She was heavily promoted by famous screenwriter Yu Zheng alongside stars such as Yang Mi and Zhao Liying.

However, unlike her fellow actresses, Yuan Shanshan struggled to break into top-tier stardom and often faced criticism over her acting skills. She was heavily criticized for her portrayal of Ren Yingying in Swordsman, with some viewers even calling for her to leave the entertainment industry.

The actress has also been involved in several controversies regarding her behavior toward colleagues. One incident that drew backlash involved Yuan publicly mentioning actress Zhang Xiaofei’s snoring habits despite visible discomfort from Zhang.

In another controversial appearance on Sisters Who Make Waves Season 2 in 2020, viewers criticized Yuan Shanshan for bluntly pointing at and criticizing actress Zhang Xinyu on camera.

As a result, Yuan Shanshan has frequently been labeled by Chinese netizens as one of the most disliked female celebrities in C-entertainment.

Sources: K14