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| Meng Qiqi Receives Weibo Ban Following Comments About 'The First Jasmine' Drama. (Sohu/Weibo) |
Chinese writer Meng Qiqi has been hit with a Weibo posting ban after a controversy surrounding the ongoing drama The First Jasmine (莫离) escalated into one of Chinese entertainment's biggest talking points this month. The dispute began with claims linking actress Bai Lu to an alleged last-minute replacement of the drama's writing team, only for those allegations to later unravel through public clarifications, denials and an eventual apology.
What started as backstage industry gossip soon became a full-blown online storm, proving once again that in modern showbusiness, rumours can travel much faster than the facts.
On 17 June, Weibo's official community monitoring account announced that the platform had taken action against @Mengqiqi77, stating that the writer had allegedly published and spread unverified information while leveraging her online influence.
According to the platform, the posts contributed to heated public arguments, encouraged hostility among internet users and disrupted normal community discussions. As a result, Weibo applied a posting ban under its rules relating to harmful promotional and misleading online behaviour.
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In its statement, Weibo's community support team stressed that its decision was not aimed at discouraging legitimate complaints or protecting public figures from criticism. The platform said it supports industry professionals and ordinary users who seek to defend their rights through lawful and reasonable channels when facing workplace disputes, contract issues or other concerns.
However, Weibo argued that rights protection must be based on verifiable facts and cannot be used as justification for spreading unconfirmed allegations, damaging another person's reputation or fuelling hostility between online communities.
The company stated that accounts found to be publishing misleading information without evidence may face moderation measures under its community rules. Weibo also urged users to remain objective when discussing trending controversies, avoid spreading rumours and help maintain what it described as a healthy and responsible online environment.
The dispute can be traced back to 10 June, when Meng Qiqi publicly claimed that actress Bai Lu had played a role in replacing the entire writing team of The First Jasmine shortly before production was due to begin.
The allegation immediately attracted attention across Chinese entertainment circles, with fans, industry observers and curious bystanders all trying to piece together what had happened behind the scenes.
The story gained even more momentum two days later when accounts associated with Bai Lu released a strong statement rejecting the accusations.
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The statement described several circulating rumours involving the actress as false and defamatory, including claims relating to the drama's writing team.
Representatives also warned that legal measures could be pursued against those responsible for spreading inaccurate information.
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Then came a dramatic reversal.
On 16 June, Meng Qiqi published a public apology directed at Bai Lu, acknowledging that her earlier assumptions were not supported by verified facts.
The writer explained that her conclusions had been influenced by previous industry controversies and her interpretation of information surrounding communications between production staff and cast members.
After conducting further checks and speaking with various sources, Meng Qiqi stated that the writer changes connected to The First Jasmine had no relationship whatsoever with Bai Lu.
In her clarification, she explicitly confirmed that the actress was not involved in the reported creative restructuring.
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The clarification did not stop there. Another writer using the pen name Feng Ran Bai also stepped forward to challenge parts of the narrative that had developed online.
The writer denied claims suggesting involvement in the project and dismissed rumours that actors or actresses had influenced the replacement of screenwriters. According to the statement, such theories were based on personal speculation rather than established facts.
Some C-netz supported Weibo's decision, arguing that influential public figures should verify information before making serious allegations while others felt the platform's action raised broader questions about online accountability and whether public apologies should be enough to resolve such disputes.
Meanwhile, many fans of Bai Lu welcomed the clarification, viewing it as confirmation that the actress had been unfairly dragged into a controversy unrelated to her work. Elsewhere, some entertainment figures noted that discussions about scripts, production quality and storytelling often end up buried beneath endless debates about rumours.
Was the apology enough, or should public figures face greater responsibility when discussing industry rumours?
The First Jasmine is available to stream on WeTV and Disney+.