On September 11th, mainland Chinese actor Yu Menglong mysteriously fell from a building in the early morning. Despite the rapid determination by Beijing police of it being an “accidental fall after drinking,” with the emergence of multiple doubts, the scandal surrounding the entertainment industry’s “unwritten rules” and the political-business shady dealings has come to light. The authorities’ suppression of information and crackdown on netizens have only made the truth more elusive. In response, Hong Kong writer Feng Xiqian recently pointed out on Facebook a key aspect: the earlier information is leaked, the closer it gets to the truth; whether the truth can be reconstructed depends on whether the authorities are willing to disclose it.
The news of Yu Menglong’s fatal fall not only shocked the entertainment industry but also quickly escalated into a political and public opinion storm within a few days. Despite the police ruling out murder as the cause of Yu Menglong’s death, public doubts persist, with numerous netizens on major social media platforms demanding a thorough investigation into the truth, only to have their posts promptly deleted and accounts suspended. Although netizens have been arrested on charges of “spreading rumors,” various questioning voices continue to be heard loudly.
Feng Xiqian mentioned that following the incident, the internet was flooded with various revelations: some claimed that Yu Menglong made a “540” hand gesture for help during a live stream before his death and left behind a poem hinting at “today they want me dead”; others disclosed a photo of singer Jiao Maqi wearing sunglasses, suggesting a faint reflection of a “scene of violence.” He emphasized, “The earlier information is leaked, the closer it gets to the truth.”
According to a Weibo account named “Detective Xiaoyan,” the revelation on the morning of September 11th stated that there was a “gathering of five or six friends” that night. Yu Menglong returned alone to his room in the early morning but was later found lying downstairs. While the police promptly dismissed it as a criminal case, details such as “two Rolex watches” and “list of friends” have never been made public. Feng Xiqian bluntly questioned, “If it was truly just an accident, why hide who was present?”
Following the circulation of multiple dinner guest lists online, including director Cheng Qingsong and screenwriter Aurora, suspicions arose. Cheng Qingsong, despite denying it twice, sparked doubts with ambiguous posts; meanwhile, Aurora chose to delete their Weibo account and remain silent, further raising suspicions of their presence at the scene of the incident. Compared to others, their actions appeared more suspicious. Feng Xiqian suggested that instead of being distracted by information such as the “list of 17 people,” it is better to focus on the two clues of the “two Rolexes” and “Aurora’s disappearance.”
In mid-September, the case took a new turn as overseas self-media outlets revealed a man named “Xinchi” as the behind-the-scenes “big boss,” even suggesting a connection to a current member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. Although the evidence may seem speculative, Xinchi, born in 1991 and entering the industry in 2011, does have an extraordinary background: achieving a high position in the film industry at a young age and collaborating with renowned directors. What is more puzzling is that despite public pressure, he has yet to come forward to clarify the situation.
In a lengthy post, Feng Xiqian expressed, “The death of Yu Menglong is no longer just a piece of entertainment industry news because many Chinese people are gradually realizing: if Yu Menglong, with 20 million fans, can die so mysteriously, how will an ordinary citizen fare?” As pointed out by a mainland netizen, “The Yu Menglong incident is not just gossip in the entertainment industry; it is a malicious social event where an innocent child without background or backing was toyed with and killed by the powerful.”
Feng Xiqian stressed, “I do not believe the official claim of ‘drunken fall from a building’ as the simple explanation for Yu Menglong’s death, but I also won’t blindly accept various rumors circulating online depicting videos of the incident, guest lists, and conspiracy theories.” In his view, “Spreading baseless false information not only fails to bring justice to the deceased but also indirectly helps certain interest groups influence public opinion and allows those who truly need to be held accountable for this to escape responsibility.”