 |
| Tian Xuning Faces Industry Freeze as "Revenged Love" BL Drama Gets Scrubbed from Platforms |
Things are heating up behind the scenes of viral Chinese BL drama Revenged Love – but not in the way fans hoped.
Tian Xuning, one of the leads who shot to overnight fame thanks to his intense performance opposite co-star Zi Yu, is reportedly facing a softban across multiple platforms. His personal Weibo account has been restricted, and rumour has it he might even be replaced in the upcoming modern romance One Day in July.
At the same time, Revenged Love’s momentum seems to have hit a sudden wall. The show’s official Weibo SuperTalk and Douban drama page have quietly disappeared, leading to mass confusion and concern from viewers. There’s now speculation that new episodes might not air next week — a blow to fans who’ve been following the series religiously.
Despite Revenged Love not airing on any major domestic channels (it’s mostly been watched through alternative platforms or fan-uploaded clips), its rapid rise in popularity has clearly struck a nerve.
The drama’s dramatic plot and undeniable chemistry between the male leads gained it a passionate fanbase – but that kind of buzz can be risky territory in China, where guidelines surrounding LGBTQ+ depictions remain tight.
 |
What Does a "Softban" Actually Mean for Chinese Celebs?
Unlike an official blacklist (which is made public), a softban is more behind-the-scenes. It’s when an actor or public figure quietly gets restricted without any formal announcement. That could mean:
-
Social media limitations (e.g., comment sections turned off, no new posts showing up in feeds)
-
Promotional material being pulled from drama pages or search results
-
Replacement or shelving of upcoming projects
-
Media blackout (suddenly no interviews, no mention on mainstream platforms)
In Tian Xuning’s case, fans noticed his account behaving oddly — posts weren’t showing up in searches, engagement dropped dramatically, and brand collaborations seemed to have stalled.
His social media restrictions are similar to what Luhan went through before (he's already been unbanned). They’ll eventually be lifted, but we don’t know exactly how long it’ll take.
Drama on Pause, Careers on the Line?
As of now, there's no official statement from the production team of Revenged Love, but several drama-watchers and bloggers are already speculating a broadcast freeze. Meanwhile, Zi Yu (his co-star) seems to be staying low-key for now, with no major posts or updates since the drama's viral peak last week.
The bigger worry is that Tian Xuning’s current and future roles – like his rumoured lead in One Day in July – could be in jeopardy. The softban might not mean a permanent block, but even a few months of silence can be career-damaging in such a fast-paced industry.
Fans Respond: ‘Justice for Revenged Love!’
International fans especially have rallied on platforms like X (Twitter), TikTok and Instagram, trending hashtags like #JusticeForRevengedLove and #TianXuningDeservesBetter. Memes, edits and behind-the-scenes clips are still circulating heavily, showing just how strong the fanbase remains.
Still, with silence from official accounts and more pages vanishing from Chinese platforms, the future of Revenged Love — and its breakout stars — is now hanging in the balance.