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| Chinese Actor Zi Yu Becomes Victim of AI-Generated Hoax Video, Fans Demand Stricter Digital Accountability |
A controversial clip started circulating on Chinese social media on November 10 — a noisy, unclear audio recording that allegedly featured popular actor ZiYu in a private conversation with his manager.
The post claimed the voice in the recording belonged to Zi Yu, supposedly saying things like “Zi Yu doesn’t want to interact with CP fans” and discussing so-called “CP selling”.
Within hours, the clip exploded across major platforms, drawing intense reactions and heated debates among netizens.
However, the entire situation took a turn when the original uploader suddenly deleted the post and later admitted that the “recording” was completely generated using AI tools.
The user even stressed multiple times that the content was “AI-made”, before deactivating their account altogether, leaving fans puzzled and frustrated.
Public Reaction and Concern Over AI Abuse
The fake clip sparked massive concern about how easily artificial intelligence can be misused to spread false information, especially targeting public figures.
Fans of ZiYu voiced their outrage, urging people not to believe unverified content and calling for tighter control over AI-generated media.
Many pointed out how realistic the voice simulation was — enough to convince casual listeners that it might have been genuine.
Others expressed worry that this kind of incident could damage reputations overnight, even before the truth comes out.
“This is scary,” one fan commented.
“AI can now fake anyone’s voice and ruin their image instantly. There should be laws against this.”
Agencies and Platforms on Alert
While Zi Yu’s studio has yet to issue an official statement, insiders revealed that management teams are now on high alert, monitoring for AI-generated fake content that could harm artists’ reputations.
Industry observers noted that the rise of deepfake-style audio and video hoaxes is becoming a growing threat across Asian entertainment, especially when fandom culture and CP (couple pairing) marketing are involved.