On the evening of March 24, social media was flooded with claims that 11 Chinese actors who participated in male romance (BL) dramas filmed overseas had been restricted by authorities. However, no credible or official source has verified this information.
Several entertainment pages in Asian countries cited Weibo posts, claiming that a list of 11 actors involved in BL projects released outside China had been subject to activity restrictions.
According to these posts, some brands have even been notified to stop collaborating with the listed artists.
The rumor quickly gained traction, especially as further claims surfaced suggesting it was a shortened version of an earlier list of 17 names that circulated in early March. The names reportedly included Hao Yiran, DeDe, Ziyu, Tian Xuning, Zhan Xuan, Liu Xuan Cheng, Qiu Dingjie, Huang Xing, Liao Shengpei, Evaldo Liang, Yun Qi, Li Pei En, Jiang Heng…
Speculation suggests that the alleged restrictions stem from these actors’ participation in BL content produced overseas, which may conflict with content regulations in China.
However, all this information remains unverified. No official documents have been released by regulators, and reliable Chinese media have not confirmed the existence of such a list.
Around the same time, a document with an official-looking red stamp circulated online, reporting a delay in the broadcast of the short drama. “Feng Ming San Sheng 1.” The document said the release had been postponed due to the involvement of an actor who had worked in foreign markets, raising concerns about risks to the public.
According to Zhiyang Film Company, the project was originally scheduled to air on March 26, but was delayed by 10-15 days for adjustments. The production team emphasized that the drama was carefully prepared over the course of several months, from the script to costume design and set production, featuring actors such as Jiang Lai and Liu Xinglu.
The producers emphasized that casting decisions were based solely on artistic considerations and the overall coherence of the project. They also said that they are actively cooperating with the relevant authorities to resolve the situation and hope to release the drama soon.
It is important to underline that the document released refers only to an adjustment of the programming for a specific project and does not constitute any formal regulation or general prohibition issued by the authorities.
Many viewers also pointed out that the viral listings never appeared on official media channels or trending search rankings on Weibo. Despite this, numerous online pages continue to republish the claims, claiming they originate from the National Radio and Television Administration of China.
Although the authority oversees the broadcast of artistic content and activities, there has been no precedent for a blanket ban on artists’ activities, particularly in commercial collaborations.
While Chinese authorities have not made any official moves, some actors said to be on the list are experiencing difficulties. On March 20, Liu Xuan Cheng would have all his scenes removed from a new drama. He previously gained attention for his role in the 2025 BL project “Love avenged”.
Meanwhile, viewers also expressed concern about actor Zhan Xuan’s role “The Shadow Punisher”, starring alongside Luo Yunxi, may be affected. Reports suggest that the production team is considering using AI technology to replace his appearance.
Sources: TP
