Hong Kong actor Shawn Yue, 44, recently made headlines on mainland China’s variety show “Thorns and Thistles 2026” for “proving to his children that he has a legitimate job.” Known for his trendy and cool image, he humorously referred to himself as the “darkest brother” on the show.
During the program, Shawn Yue jokingly remarked while showcasing his practice room, “Finally, I can prove that I am in a legitimate profession!” In recent years, his on-screen appearances have decreased significantly, leading his children to wonder why they don’t see him often. Therefore, he decided to use the show as a platform to let his children witness him at work, offering a different way to explain his real job to them.
Apart from proving to his children that he is employed, Shawn Yue’s noticeably tanned complexion on the show sparked discussions among netizens. When teased by show staff and guests as the darkest among the 27 brothers, he embraced self-deprecation, humorously responding, “Call me Little Black,” entertaining the audience.
On July 20, just one month ago, Shawn Yue and Taiwanese heiress Wang Tangyun, known as the “Belt Queen,” announced the end of their nearly 9-year marriage on social media. They chose not to disclose the reason for their divorce but stated that they had reached a consensus to peacefully separate, continuing to co-parent their two children as a family.
Interestingly, on the same day of the divorce announcement, Shawn Yue’s participation as a guest on the mainland China’s Hunan TV Mango TV variety show “Thorns and Thistles 2026” was confirmed. This uncanny timing sparked discussions on Weibo, with netizens commenting, “Love and career always have to be on track,” making his divorce announcement and joining “Brother” on the same day one of the hottest topics.
Since his marriage in 2017, Shawn Yue significantly reduced his acting work, focusing on his family and his streetwear business in mainland China. During this period, he temporarily withdrew from the public eye due to issues like panic disorder, with only one poorly-received movie “The Confidential Assignment” released in seven years, marking a low point in his career.
Due to the dwindling entertainment opportunities in recent years and the lackluster performance of his streetwear business, Shawn Yue’s return to the spotlight through a variety show announcement on the same day as his divorce was interpreted by netizens as a seamless transition between his personal and public identities. It seemed as if he was declaring to the world, “I’m back and ready to give my all to my career.”