A Chinese short film that went viral has come under fire after netizens accused a male actor of allegedly groping his co-star during a kidnapping scene, sending the controversy soaring up the trending search rankings.
The drama, entitled Before being exchanged for her son, the landlady Hou was in troubleis currently performing well on streaming platforms, ranking fifth in the “rebirth” category of the trending charts. However, its popularity has been overshadowed by the backlash surrounding a controversial moment in episode 28.
According to mainland Chinese media reports, eagle-eyed viewers noticed a questionable gesture during the kidnapping sequence. In the scene, the actor holds the female character from behind, covering her mouth with one hand while trying to drag her away with the other. Yet the public pointed out that his left hand appeared to be resting directly on the actress’ chest and moving from side to side, leading to accusations of inappropriate physical contact.
Screenshots and clips of the moment quickly circulated on Sina Weibo, fueling heated debate. Some viewers expressed disbelief, commenting that even if the contact had been accidental, “there was no need to retain such footage in the final cut.” Others pointed out that production teams should pay more attention to camera design and actor protection, particularly in fast-paced shooting environments.
The report notes that short dramas are known for their rapid production cycles and tight schedules. Many series in this format feature 60 to 100 episodes, each lasting about 2 to 3 minutes. Despite the large number of episodes, the total duration usually amounts to only 2 or 3 hours. These productions generally fall into two categories: portrait format dramas designed for viewing on smartphones and short landscape format dramas. Both are typically low-cost projects that have gained considerable popularity in recent years.
At the moment, the production team has not released an official response clarifying whether the alleged groping moment was intentional or accidental.
The incident once again highlights growing scrutiny around China’s thriving “micro short” industry. While the format continues to dominate mobile entertainment platforms and generate strong engagement, controversies like this raise questions about on-set professionalism, content review standards and artist protection.
Public discussions remain ongoing as viewers await further clarification from the drama’s producers.
Sources: China News, Sina, The Paper, Yahoo
