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| Actor Zhang Linghe Issues Warning After Station Chaos Sparks Safety Concerns. (Credits: Sohu/Weibo) |
Chinese actor Zhang Linghe was caught in a public safety scare on 5 April 2026 after being surrounded by a crowd at a high-speed railway station, prompting a firm response from his management and reigniting debate around extreme fan conduct in public spaces.
The situation quickly escalated when a group believed to include overzealous fans, sasaeng followers and freelance photographers crowded around the actor, blocking pathways and attempting to capture images at close range.
Witness accounts describe a scene that disrupted normal station operations, with commuters forced to navigate around the congestion as movement through key access points became restricted.
The incident reportedly unfolded while Zhang Linghe, known for his roles in Story of Kunning Palace (宁安如梦), My Journey to You (云之羽), & Pursuit of Jade (逐玉) was travelling for work.
In a direct response shared via social media, Zhang Linghe addressed the incident with visible frustration, calling out behaviour that crossed personal and public boundaries.
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He stressed that encounters in uncontrolled environments, particularly those that compromise safety and order, are neither welcome nor appropriate.
His message was clear: support should not come at the cost of disruption or risk to others.
His management followed with a strongly worded statement, condemning the actions as both unethical and potentially unlawful.
The agency stated that obstructing public pathways for personal gain, including unauthorised photography, undermines not only the safety of the artist but also that of the general public.
They added that such conduct had exceeded acceptable limits and would not be tolerated.
The statement further underlined a willingness to pursue accountability where necessary, signalling a tougher stance against persistent intrusion and disorderly fan activity.
Importantly, the management also issued a public apology to commuters and station staff affected by the disruption, acknowledging the broader impact beyond the celebrity involved.
Full Statement:
"Recently, our artist Mr Zhang Linghe encountered serious disruption to public order while travelling through a high-speed railway station as part of his normal schedule. Certain individuals, including sasaeng followers and unauthorised photographers, ignored public safety by surrounding him, filming at close range, and deliberately blocking pathways. This caused severe disorder at the scene and significantly affected normal passage as well as the safety of other passengers.
We are extremely outraged by this incident. We strongly condemn such behaviour, which disregards public safety and infringes upon the legal rights of others. This not only posed a serious threat to Mr Zhang Linghe’s personal safety, but also created substantial risks to public order and the safety of others.
We hereby solemnly state:
We firmly oppose any form of sasaeng activity or unauthorised photography. Such actions cross both legal and moral boundaries and are not considered legitimate fan support.
We strongly urge all fans and members of the public to engage in rational fandom, respect artists’ personal space and privacy, and focus attention on their work. No form of admiration should come at the expense of public safety or the rights of others.
We issue a serious warning to those involved in sasaeng and unauthorised photography activities to immediately cease all actions including surrounding, stalking, filming, and spreading non-public schedule content. Our company reserves the right to pursue legal responsibility against those involved.
Finally, we sincerely apologise to those who were affected during this incident. We will further strengthen security measures for Mr Zhang Linghe and firmly oppose any form of rights infringement.
This statement is hereby issued."
Some fans expressed disappointment and called for stricter self-regulation within fan communities, arguing that incidents like this damage the reputation of both the artist and his supporters.
Others pointed to a growing culture of invasive behaviour driven by competition for exclusive content, particularly among unofficial photographers. Meanwhile, a segment of netizens questioned whether stronger on-site security measures should have been in place to prevent such crowding in a high-traffic public area.
There is also a quieter but notable shift in discourse, with many highlighting how repeated incidents across the industry suggest a systemic issue rather than isolated cases.
What do you think — should stricter rules be enforced, or is this a case of fandom culture going too far?