In recent episodes of the variety show “Reunion” aired recently, mainland Chinese actor Ma Tianyu revealed that he was on the verge of a breakdown both mentally and emotionally after his father’s passing. During his toughest moments, he took the initiative to call Yang Mi to confide in her. Yang Mi, in a quiet and non-intrusive manner, listened to his negative emotions without probing or lecturing, and this phone call became a key turning point in helping him emerge from the darkness. Ma Tianyu has since come out of his low point and now uses his experience to encourage others in similar situations to “speak up for help without shame.”
Ma Tianyu shared on the show that his father passed away in 2018, which had a profound impact on him given his pre-existing family trauma. Along with long-term work fatigue, his emotions completely crumbled, leading him to lock himself in his room, lying in bed almost all day without going out for two to three months. He admitted on the show that at that time, he felt like “I couldn’t go on anymore,” experiencing extreme thoughts and feeling stuck in an insurmountable hurdle.
After going through his contacts, Ma Tianyu eventually called Yang Mi.
At that time, Yang Mi herself was facing a special period of public criticism due to her starring role in the film “Babe” which faced continuous controversy and criticism for a failed transformation. Despite facing challenges of her own, upon receiving Ma Tianyu’s call, she listened without judgment, advice, or hastily analyzing his family trauma, just quietly listening to him pour out his chaos and vulnerability.
Ma Tianyu expressed on the show that Yang Mi’s approach of “protective listening” solidly caught his negative emotions, becoming a pivotal turning point for him to overcome his mental struggles. On October 22, the news of “Ma Tianyu confiding in Yang Mi during his low point” quickly trended on Weibo.
Born in a remote mountain village in Shandong, Ma Tianyu’s mother tragically took her own life by overdosing on medication during the Mid-Autumn Festival when he was 5 years old. He previously revealed on the show: “At that time, my mom asked me to go buy medicine and let me use the remaining money to buy a box of chocolates.” Ma Tianyu recalled that his mother had attempted suicide with him, but “I survived.” Even now, Ma Tianyu still struggles with guilt, feeling responsible for his mother’s death by purchasing the medicine. Netizens empathized with his heartbreaking story.
Following the passing of his mother, his father, burdened with gambling debts, abandoned Ma Tianyu and his sister, disappearing without a trace. Debt collectors came to their home, took away all valuable possessions, and even took away their infant brother to settle the debts.
To this day, Ma Tianyu doesn’t know the whereabouts of his brother or if he is still alive, having also forgotten what his brother looked like.
Raised by his grandparents on meager income, Ma Tianyu shouldered the responsibility of taking care of his family at a young age, embarking on the path of drifting to Beijing at 16 to enter the entertainment industry to provide for his family.
Ma Tianyu and Yang Mi were classmates at the Beijing Film Academy class of 2005 and developed a strong bond through their collaboration in the popular drama “Swords of Legends” in 2014, maintaining a friendship of over twenty years.
Following his conversation with Yang Mi, Ma Tianyu actively sought help from a psychologist for self-recovery. With the realization that his family still depended on him, he regained his strength fueled by a sense of responsibility, adopting a new pseudonym, “Ma Xiangyang,” symbolizing the idea of “bearing thorns and still thriving under the sun.” Besides Yang Mi, his coworkers and family continuously supported him, leading him to actively engage with friends, adjust his routines, and gradually return to his work rhythm.
Ma Tianyu’s willingness to openly share this experience on the show has been interpreted by many netizens as a message to those in similar circumstances: seeking help is not shameful, and finding someone willing to support you is stronger than bearing it alone. This transition from being “helped” to becoming a “helper” serves as a reference for public figures on how to transmit positive values through their personal experiences.