Wang Yibo and Xiao Zhan: Fandom Controversies and Their Relationship

The Untamed and Rising Stardom

• 💡 Wang Yibo and Xiao Zhan rose to fame as leads in the 2019 Chinese drama The Untamed.
• 🎭 The show, based on a BL web novel, was adapted as a bromance due to China's LGBTQ censorship laws.
• 💖 Their on-screen chemistry and close public interactions fueled fan speculation about a real-life romance.

The 227 Incident and Its Fallout

• ⚠️ Fans "shipping" the actors created explicit fanfictions, leading to controversy among conservative netizens.
• 🔥 The "227 incident" occurred when Xiao Zhan's fans mass-reported a fanfiction on Archive of Our Own (AO3).
• 🚫 This action led to AO3 being blocked in mainland China, causing widespread backlash against Xiao Zhan and his fandom.
• 📉 Online boycotts targeted Xiao Zhan's brands and projects, severely impacting his public image and career.

Navigating the Aftermath

• 💬 Xiao Zhan responded by releasing a hit song, apologizing for past remarks, and urging fans to be rational.
• ⚖️ He filed criminal complaints against online harassers, eventually winning a defamation case.
• 🤝 Both actors were pressured to avoid public interaction to prevent further controversy and protect their careers.

Ongoing Fandom Dynamics

• ⚔️ The incident intensified fandom conflicts between solo fans and shippers, leading to occasional physical altercations.
• 🤔 Netizens debate whether the distance between Wang Yibo and Xiao Zhan is real tension or a PR strategy.
• 🚀 Most believe their current separation is a strategic move to protect their careers and avoid reigniting past scandals.