Chinese actor Cheng Yi has recently become the center of online discussion after a document circulating on Chinese social media allegedly revealed a different birth year than what is publicly listed in his official artist profile.

According to Chinese media reports, the controversy began when an image of a legal document related to a defamation lawsuit involving the actor spread across entertainment forums. The case reportedly involved Cheng Yi filing a complaint against an individual for allegedly damaging his reputation. However, the lawsuit was later withdrawn before the court hearing took place.

While the legal dispute itself did not attract much attention, netizens quickly focused on a detail in the document that appeared to show the actor’s personal information. The circulating image listed his birth date as April 13, 1989.

This immediately sparked debate because Cheng Yi’s publicly listed birthday has long been recorded as May 17, 1990. The discrepancy of one year may seem minor, but in China’s entertainment industry, birth year often affects how actors are categorized within their generation.

For years, Cheng Yi has been grouped among the so-called “post-90s” actors, alongside stars such as Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo. If the circulating document were accurate, he would technically belong to the “post-80s” generation instead.

Because industry rankings, media comparisons, and fan discussions frequently categorize actors by generational groups—such as those born in the 1980s (often called the “8X generation”) and those born in the 1990s (“9X generation”)—a change in Cheng Yi’s birth year could potentially affect how his career achievements are compared with those of other actors.

However, many online users have also expressed skepticism about the authenticity of the document. Some pointed out that the address listed in the document only mentioned “Beijing” without a more detailed residential or registration address, which is typically included in official Chinese court paperwork.

Others noted that the law firm referenced in the document does not appear to match the legal representatives previously reported to have handled Cheng Yi’s legal matters. These inconsistencies have led some observers to question whether the document might be incomplete, misinterpreted, or even fabricated.

As the debate continues across entertainment forums and social media platforms, Cheng Yi’s management team has not yet issued any official statement addressing the alleged birth year discrepancy.

Until further clarification is provided, the speculation surrounding the actor’s real age remains an unconfirmed online rumor rather than verified information.

Sources: Netizenbuzz