Wang Hedi is currently facing intense public criticism after speaking out about feeling uncomfortable during his appearance on a recent variety program.
According to Chinese media reports, Wang Hedi participated in the variety show Dear Inn alongside several celebrities including Qin Lan and Shen Yue.
The controversy reportedly began during the program’s final episode, where cast members held a mock awards ceremony for participants. Wang Hedi received an award titled “Just Wang Hedi,” which was intended to encourage him to remain free-spirited and true to himself.
However, many fans felt the award appeared dismissive and failed to properly acknowledge Wang Hedi’s contributions as one of the show’s main members.
Additional criticism emerged after cast members jokingly altered his name into a phrase implying he ranked “at the bottom,” while Qin Lan also mentioned during another broadcast that a separate group chat existed without Wang Hedi included.
On May 23, Wang Hedi addressed the controversy through social media, writing: “At the time, I thought maybe I was just being sensitive. But after reading everyone’s analysis all day today, I want to say that I really did feel uncomfortable then.”
His studio later reposted the statement, adding: “Sensitivity is not weakness. It is an instinctive awareness of personal boundaries.”
Following Wang Hedi’s comments, fans strongly criticized Shen Yue and other cast members, accusing them of workplace bullying and social exclusion.
Shen Yue later publicly apologized, explaining that she never intended to disrespect or isolate Wang Hedi and that the jokes were simply friendly teasing among close colleagues.
She also clarified that the separate group chat had only been created to organize support for Wang Hedi’s movie release by pooling money for theater bookings.
The controversy attracted enormous attention online largely because Wang Hedi and Shen Yue remain one of Chinese entertainment’s most beloved on-screen pairings after starring together in the 2018 remake of Meteor Garden.
Some related hashtags reportedly accumulated over one billion total views across Chinese social media platforms.
Despite support from his fans, Wang Hedi soon became the target of heavy backlash himself.
Many netizens argued that the actor should have privately addressed his feelings months earlier instead of publicly commenting after fan discussions escalated online. Critics accused him of indirectly encouraging fan attacks against his colleagues.
The controversy further intensified as old clips resurfaced showing Wang Hedi making jokes or behaving playfully toward other celebrities during past programs. Some viewers claimed the actor himself had previously crossed boundaries with fellow entertainers, leading to accusations of double standards.
As debates continue spreading across platforms including Weibo, Xiaohongshu, and Douyin, Wang Hedi’s public image has reportedly suffered noticeable damage, with reactions remaining sharply divided between supporters and critics.
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