Hong Kong actress Angelababy, who is still single at 44 years old, starred in the movie “Say Goodbye Well” which held a promotional event in mainland China on the 21st. At the event, fans praised her acting, with one saying she looked just like a mother on screen. Another fan even called her “mommy,” to which Angelababy jokingly responded, “You’re too old!” This witty exchange garnered laughter from the audience and quickly became a hot topic online.
In “Say Goodbye Well,” Angelababy portrays a single mother named Ying Nuo who is battling a terminal illness. The film follows her journey with her 5-year-old daughter through a small town under the Huaihua tree, as she attempts to leave her daughter in the care of her estranged father to pursue her dream of participating in a world sugar cake contest overseas.
Angelababy’s character in the film is complex, especially during the scene where she falls ill, displaying intense pain. Her portrayal has been praised for its emotional depth and accuracy. When a fan complimented her during the promotional event, saying, “Angelababy, you truly embody a mother in the movie, it feels so realistic,” Angelababy responded with a hint of warmth in her eyes: “Maternal instinct is innate. When you have a child, that protective instinct naturally emerges. However, in the movie, I primarily express this emotion through acting.”
In a playful moment during the audience interaction, another fan enthusiastically called out, “Mommy!” Under the spotlight, Angelbaby turned her head slightly with a mischievous smile and replied, “You’re too old!”
The playful banter lasted for just a few seconds, but it instantly lit up the room and created a buzz on the internet.
Opinions among netizens were divided regarding fans calling a celebrity “mommy” in public. Some felt that even if Angelababy was uncomfortable with the term, she should have maintained a broader mindset and not embarrassed her fans. On the other hand, many thought that addressing a celebrity as “mommy” in such a familiar way was overly intimate and inappropriate, especially for unmarried women without children.
Some fans appreciated Angelababy’s candid response, seeing it as a reflection of her genuine personality. They praised her for being straightforward and unapologetic, with one fan commenting, “Angelababy has always been outspoken, and many fans love her candid nature. Besides, most of her fans are in their twenties or thirties, so calling her ‘mommy’ might not be entirely appropriate.” This response was seen as Angelababy’s way of rejecting being pigeonholed into a single image.