Chinese actress Bai Lu is facing renewed scrutiny after her appearance on the latest season of variety show Keep Running, where many of her on-screen remarks sparked debate over tone and sensitivity.
The controversy emerged from a behind-the-scenes interaction between Bai Lu and the younger guests of Teens in Times. During the conversation, guests mentioned feeling exhausted after a morning challenge. Bai Lu, however, responded that he did not find it tiring, but only hot, despite the confirmation of physical exertion.
This moment quickly attracted criticism online, with viewers pointing out that the actress had participated in a relatively lighter activity, while other members endured more physically demanding tasks such as rowing and long-distance relay swimming. Many argued that his comment appeared lacking in empathy, given the uneven difficulty of the challenges.
The situation further escalated during the main broadcast, when Bai Lu referred to veteran members Li Chen and Zheng Kai as “old people” in a joking tone, while imitating their actions during matches. Although intended as humor, some viewers felt the remarks bordered on disrespectful, especially toward longtime cast members who shaped the show’s identity.
The backlash comes at a difficult time for Keep Running, as the new season reportedly opened with one of its lowest ratings to date. Audience dissatisfaction has been attributed not only to format fatigue, but also to cast dynamics and on-screen interactions that seem less engaging than in previous seasons.
However, not all reactions have been negative. A portion of viewers defended Bai Lu, arguing that variety shows are designed for entertainment and spontaneity and that her comments may have been exaggerated or decontextualized through editing.
The incident ultimately highlights a larger problem in the current entertainment landscape: As reality and variety content becomes increasingly scrutinized online, even casual observations can quickly turn into controversy. For Bai Lu, the debate serves as a reminder once again that public image in unscripted formats can have the same impact as scripted performances.
