 |
| False Rumours 'Out of Control': Meng Ziyi’s Studio Claps Back (Weibo) |
Meng Ziyi has found herself at the centre of controversy once again—but this time, her studio isn’t staying quiet. On 9 June, her official team released a strongly worded legal statement addressing a wave of online accusations targeting her character and career.
According to the post, several netizens have recently taken to social media to spread rumours labelling Meng Ziyi as a so-called “homewrecker,” “scene-stealer” (jiaxi/加戏), and someone who “takes advantage of fans and social incidents for personal gain.”
Her studio has firmly denied all such claims and has already initiated legal proceedings against multiple individuals accused of violating her rights.
The statement, issued through Meng Ziyi’s legal team, stressed that this wasn’t just a one-off response. The studio confirmed it had “once again taken legal steps to protect Meng Ziyi’s lawful interests”, hinting that this sort of backlash has become far too familiar in her career.
 |
What does “scene-stealing” mean in this context?
In the world of Chinese dramas, jiaxi or “scene-stealing” is a touchy subject. It refers to when an actor allegedly receives more screen time than their character deserves—either due to personal influence or deliberate adjustments made post-filming. It's not exactly illegal, but among viewers and fans, it can spark serious backlash—especially in dramas adapted from popular novels where the original story is well-known.
Meng Ziyi previously faced similar criticism during her role as Wen Qing in the 2019 hit drama The Untamed. Many fans of the source material believed her character’s arc had been overly expanded in the drama version—leading to widespread speculation that someone behind the scenes was boosting her presence unfairly.
Her current situation echoes that same pattern, though this time, it’s tied to harsher claims—hence the swift legal response.
Studio doubles down: ‘The spread of public opinion is out of control’
Later the same day, Meng Ziyi’s team didn’t stop at legal documents. They followed up with a separate “firm statement” aimed at the general public and online community. In it, they described the online attacks as “spiralling out of control” and warned that public opinion was being manipulated by malicious narratives.
They also called on fans and social media users to remain rational and avoid contributing to a toxic online atmosphere. “Let’s work together to build a cleaner and healthier internet environment,” the studio urged.
What’s next?
Sohu reported that Meng Ziyi’s legal team is actively collecting evidence and plans to pursue further legal action if necessary. With lawsuits already filed, it seems the actress and her camp are taking a zero-tolerance approach from here on out.
Whether or not this move will put an end to the constant whispers and online targeting remains to be seen—but one thing’s for sure: Meng Ziyi isn’t letting her name get dragged without a fight.