Actress Bai Lu, widely dubbed the “iQIYI Princess,” is facing intense public backlash after becoming embroiled in multiple controversies at iQIYI’s year-end awards ceremony on the evening of December 6. The event honored top actors and hit productions of 2025, but instead of focusing solely on achievements, attention quickly shifted to disputes involving veteran stars Yang Mi and Liu Shi Shi.
At the ceremony, organizers arranged Yang Mi and Bai Lu at the two most important tables in the venue. In 2025, Bai Lu released three dramas on the iQIYI platform Moonlight Mystique, Northward, and Feud all of which delivered solid performance results. As a result, many viewers began referring to her as the platform’s “favorite princess.” Meanwhile, Yang Mi’s drama This Thriving Land recorded the highest ratings and viewership on iQIYI this year.
Soon after, media outlets noticed that Bai Lu and Yang Mi were both seated in the center position at their tables, sparking a trending topic on Weibo titled “Bai Lu and Yang Mi both sit in the center.” The keyword quickly surpassed 60 million views and ignited a fierce fan war. Yang Mi’s fans accused Bai Lu of riding on Yang Mi’s fame through media tactics, attempting to place herself on equal footing with a senior actress. Many argued that in terms of experience, body of work, and overall influence, Bai Lu is not yet on Yang Mi’s level.
In response, Bai Lu’s supporters pushed back, claiming that Yang Mi’s popularity has declined while Bai Lu is currently the star receiving the strongest backing from iQIYI. They pointed out that Bai Lu’s online engagement metrics and fan activity now surpass those of Yang Mi. On the day of Scream Night 2025, Bai Lu ranked first among all female guests in WeChat discussion volume.
Adding fuel to the fire, Bai Lu was also caught in a second controversy involving Liu Shi Shi. In iQIYI’s “Most Beloved Character” category, the original winners were announced as Li Qin (for her role in Fated Hearts), Yang Mi (for her role in This Thriving Land), and Liu Shi Shi (for her role in Love in Pavilion). This award was determined through paid fan voting, requiring heavy financial and organizational support from fandoms. However, when the final winners were revealed, Bai Lu unexpectedly replaced Liu Shi Shi. Liu Shi Shi’s fans immediately protested to the organizers, and after strong backlash, the award was eventually returned to Liu Shi Shi.
Despite the controversies, Bai Lu still walked away with major wins, including the Goddess of Scream Night 2025 award, while Moonlight Mystique also claimed the title of Representative Drama of the Year.
Born in 1994, Bai Lu is a top protégé of famous producer Yu Zheng and one of the few internet influencers who successfully transitioned into a mainstream A-list actress. Known for her relentless work ethic, she consistently appears in around three projects every year and remains active across drama productions and variety shows to maintain her visibility. She has previously been linked in dating rumors with Xu Kai and Zhang Ling He. As her popularity continues to grow rapidly, the intense scrutiny surrounding her public image shows no signs of slowing down.
Sources: K14
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