Recently, Chinese actress Meng Zi Yi, at the age of 30, has gained high popularity through drama series such as “Nine Layers of Purple” and “Peach Blossoms Reflecting on the River and Mountains”. However, during the filming of her new drama “Love in Endless Summer,” she was targeted by netizens or online paparazzi who posted fragmented videos on social media platforms, claiming that she had “frequent NG (retakes) and breaking character moments”, even affecting the filming progress of the male lead Ding Yu Xi and the production team. In response to this, the production team released a statement on August 31st to clarify the situation, and Meng Zi Yi’s studio also condemned the spread of rumors.
According to rumors circulating online, snippets of video clips from the set of “Love in Endless Summer” showed Meng Zi Yi with a smiling face during scenes, accompanied by captions stating that she “frequently breaks character, has frequent NGs, and hinders the performance of her co-stars”.
Facing these rumors, the production team of “Love in Endless Summer” issued a statement on August 31st: “The video snippet circulating online shows the scene after the director called Cut (finishing the shot) for the day and concluded the filming of that particular scene, capturing the natural state of the actors after a long day of intense shooting. There were no instances of actors breaking character, making mistakes in acting, or being unfocused.” The production team further emphasized that “the comments regarding Meng Zi Yi laughing on set and having NGs are distortions and fabrications of the fragmented video footage.” They urged fans not to engage in malicious behaviors and create a peaceful environment for the work.
According to sources familiar with the situation on set, due to filming outdoors and the inability to completely block off the area, there were frequent disruptions from passersby appearing in the shots, fans shouting names, and unexpected incidents like electric vehicles passing through, which objectively led to multiple retakes, unrelated to the actors’ professionalism.
Meng Zi Yi’s studio reposted the video, stating that they firmly oppose any malicious rumors and smear campaigns, emphasizing that they will legally defend the rights of the artist and not tolerate those spreading false information.
Many onlookers present at the scene also spoke up, confirming that Meng Zi Yi was very dedicated during filming, and her acting skills were recognized by both the director and bystanders.
Currently, in order to prevent the misinterpretation of fragmented video clips, the production team has put up signs on set to prohibit unauthorized filming and leaks.
Regarding the phenomenon of “twisting facts” in the era of short video clips, some analysts believe that this is primarily due to the pursuit of traffic. In the current online environment in China, normal and smooth behind-the-scenes filming footage often lacks appeal, while headlines like “actors breaking character,” “unprofessional behavior on set,” and “affecting co-stars” filled with dramatic conflicts can quickly attract a large number of viewers and discussions.
As the individuals spreading rumors or the bloggers deliberately omitted the context of the director’s call for “Cut” and only focused on a few seconds of Meng Zi Yi laughing, forcibly linking it to the context of “breaking character during filming,” this has led to misinformation among the public.
Moreover, it has sparked concern that in the related written revelations, the rumor-mongers not only accused Meng Zi Yi of “frequent NGs,” but also intentionally praised the male lead Ding Yu Xi as being “flawless.” This kind of divisive tactic aims to provoke a clash between the fan bases and elevate ordinary behind-the-scenes moments to a moral attack of “who is causing trouble for whom,” thereby solidifying a specific image for a particular artist as “professional and talented”.
Another perspective suggests that Meng Zi Yi had previously been labeled as “emotionally unintelligent” and “unprofessional” based on her performances in some variety shows. Even though she has improved her reputation through interactions with Mandarin-speaking fans and her recent work, in the eyes of haters and rumor-spreaders, she still falls into the category of a controversial figure. The rumor-mongers seem to be well aware that by attributing “unprofessionalism and frequent NGs” to her, it is easier to reinforce preconceived notions among netizens who already have a negative impression of her, thereby intensifying the spread of rumors.