Even before the audience of “Weibo Night 2026” had time to fully settle into their seats, a huge controversy erupted involving high-level Chinese celebrities. The star-studded event brought together A-list figures such as Shu Qi, Li Bingbing, Huang Xiaoming, Nicholas Tse, Bai Lu, Zhang Ruonan, Song Zu’er, Zhou Ye, Lu Yuxiao, Xiao Zhan, Wang Yibo and Zhang Linghe. However, it was an unexpected seating dispute involving Yang Mi, Xin Zhilei and Xiao Zhan that quickly dominated online discussions.
According to several entertainment bloggers, Yang Mi was accused of using her senior status to allegedly push Xiao Zhan out of the coveted center (C) position, moving him to another row so she could secure a center spot herself. The allegations suggest that Yang Mi aimed to create a “double center” arrangement, placing herself on equal footing with Xin Zhilei, who was reportedly positioned as one of the key VVIP hosts.
Speculation about the motive spread quickly online. After winning the Best Actress award at the 2025 Venice Film Festival, Xin Zhilei’s status and prestige have increased, and many consider her to have surpassed Yang Mi and other actresses of the same generation. Unable to openly challenge Xin Zhilei’s central positioning, Yang Mi was said to have instead quietly moved Xiao Zhan’s nameplate, effectively becoming part of the central formation. Some attendees even said they saw event staff move Xiao Zhan’s business card to a different place.
The allegations triggered a fierce backlash from Xiao Zhan’s fans, who criticized Yang Mi on Weibo and Douban, accusing her of unprofessional and unfair conduct. Yang Mi’s supporters immediately responded, defending the actress and questioning the credibility of the rumors. As tensions escalated, heated arguments between the two fandoms flooded social media platforms.
Journalists at the scene later reported that following the online uproar, Xiao Zhan was eventually seated next to Yang Mi and Xin Zhilei in the front row. In the final arrangement, Xin Zhilei sat in the center, with Xiao Zhan and Yang Mi positioned on either side.
Amid growing criticism, Yang Mi’s studio responded promptly, directly tagging event organizer Sina on social media and demanding a clear explanation regarding the seating controversy. The studio urged the organizer to address negative allegations regarding the seating arrangements involving Yang Mi, Xiao Zhan and Xin Zhilei.
At the moment, public opinion remains sharply divided, with debates continuing to rage online. The truth about what really happened has not yet been completely clarified and many are waiting for an official statement from the event organizer or the three stars involved to finally put an end to the controversy.
Sources: K14
