Recently, rumors of a romantic relationship between Angelababy (Yang Ying) and actor Li Chen suddenly went viral on the Chinese internet, causing a stir on Weibo’s trending topics. However, many netizens expressed disbelief in the news, questioning whether it was a publicity stunt for the only show where the two have intersected and which is currently experiencing low viewership, the variety program “Keep Running” (formerly known as “Running Man”).
Angelababy and Li Chen are both regular members of the cast of “Keep Running,” having collaborated on the show since it began airing in 2014. Their interactions have often been described by viewers as sibling-like. Nevertheless, due to a recent incident where Angelababy attended a fashion event in Paris featuring the K-pop group BLACKPINK’s Lisa, sparking negative reactions, she was absent from the filming of the 12th season of “Keep Running,” while Li Chen remained as a fixed cast member.
Despite Li Chen’s involvement in various film and television projects in recent years, his works have not garnered as much attention as his long-standing role as a regular member of “Keep Running.” The recent speculation amplified when Li Chen posted a message claiming that “a 10-year friendship has transformed into profound love,” leading many to speculate that he may be referring to his 10-year collaboration with Angelababy. However, there is no screenshot to confirm the authenticity of his post.
As the rumors escalated, keywords like “Li Chen Yang Ying” and “Li Chen Yang Ying dating” trended on search engines. Netizens flooded social media with comments such as “Is this for real?” “This seems too far-fetched,” “Where did this come from?” “Surely, no one believes this, right?” “Can they please clarify this quickly?” “Is this genuine or just a publicity stunt?” Most online users expressed shock and disbelief over the rumors.
An article published by the mainland media outlet “Sohu” on the 22nd suggested that “Keep Running” might be resorting to such tactics to boost ratings, given the current trend of declining popularity for many long-standing programs facing expiration.
The article highlighted, “Previously, ‘Keep Running’ consistently topped the variety show rankings, gaining immense popularity shortly after its premiere, propelling Angelababy to become a new generation’s rising star. However, with the show losing its charm, recent episodes have recorded alarmingly low viewership, with the latest episode hitting a dismal 0.3% rating.”
From the perspective of Angelababy, the article analyzed, “Since the ‘Lisa incident’ during Paris Fashion Week, despite her efforts to salvage her reputation by various means, Angelababy has yet to see a complete turnaround. She not only missed the opportunity to appear as a guest on ‘Keep Running,’ but also has several projects in a state of limbo.”
In conclusion, the article noted, “By fabricating a romantic relationship between the two, ‘Keep Running’ aims to attract more viewers and capitalize on the sensational news for increased viewership.”
In reality, Angelababy divorced Huang Xiaoming in 2022, attracting ongoing attention to her love life. During the pandemic, she was rumored to have had a secret date with a wealthy businessman in Shanghai, but her assistant bluntly denied these claims, stating, “Stop spreading rumors.” Meanwhile, Li Chen went from publicly dating Fan Bingbing to their engagement, which was later called off. Fan Bingbing faced backlash due to her involvement in a tax evasion scandal and, at 45 years old, Li Chen remains single.