Hong Kong actress Angelababy, who was involved in the “Feng Ma Show” scandal last year and was soft-banned by the Chinese authorities, is gradually returning to public activities. On July 30th, it was reported that her new drama “The Love Bug” has obtained the release permit, with many interpreting this as Angelababy being officially unblocked.
“The Love Bug,” adapted from the novel “The Stolen Bride” by Taiwanese writer Xi Juan, has attracted significant attention from readers of the original novel since its filming began. However, concerns arose among fans after the female lead Angelababy was exposed for watching the “Feng Ma Show” and subsequently soft-banned by the mainland Chinese authorities, raising fears that the drama might be cancelled.
Last year, during her visit to the Paris Fashion Week, Angelababy was reported by netizens for privately attending the “Feng Ma Show” featuring Lisa from the South Korean girl group BLACKPINK. Although not directly named by the authorities, Angelababy’s video was promptly taken down by the Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. Amid the public outcry, the official account of “Feng Ma Show” clarified in a post: “We are aware of the discussions surrounding Angelababy, and unfortunately she has never watched ‘The Feng Ma Show.’ But we would be delighted to invite her at any time.”
This statement further fueled dissatisfaction among mainland Chinese netizens, with “patriotic little pinks” calling for the boycott of Angelababy, who they accuse of being a fan of “idolizing Japanese and Korean stars.”
Over the past year, Angelababy has faced consequences such as being banned from social media accounts on Weibo and Douyin. According to Tencent News, “Angelababy caused controversy by going abroad to watch ‘The Feng Ma Show,’ leading to a sharp decline in reputation and significant obstacles in her career. TV program appearances were cut, endorsement ads were prohibited, and she was not invited to brand events.” The most striking impact was Angelababy’s hosting role in “Running Man” disappearing, signaling a crisis in her career trajectory.
Currently, in addition to the anticipated release of “The Love Bug,” Angelababy has completed filming for upcoming works such as “Shadow Search” and “Memories of Dust.” Fans are delighted at the prospect of Angelababy, post-divorce from Huang Xiaoming, making a comeback in the entertainment industry.