Shen Yue Has Been Targeted by Multiple Controversies Over the Past Week

Why Is Shen Yue Being Criticised? Plagiarism Claims, Grandma Controversy and Fan War. (Credits: Sohu/Weibo)

Shen Yue has spent the past week battling one controversy after another as criticism towards the actress continues to snowball across Chinese social media. First came plagiarism allegations linked to a disputed article that supporters insist was never written by her. Then an old video of the actress speaking emotionally about not having enough time to visit her grandmother resurfaced, triggering a fresh round of criticism. With tensions from the recent Dylan Wang Hedi controversy still lingering online, many C-netz are now asking whether Shen Yue is facing separate controversies or becoming the latest focus of an increasingly heated fandom battle.

The latest wave of criticism arrived after an old clip resurfaced showing Shen Yue becoming emotional while speaking about not having enough time to spend with her grandmother. 

The actress appeared genuinely upset during the programme, explaining that work commitments often prevented her from visiting family as much as she wanted. However, once the clip returned to public attention, some netizens were far from sympathetic.

Comments quickly spread across social media platforms, with critics arguing that she could simply spend less time travelling or filming lifestyle content if family visits were truly a priority. 

Others sarcastically questioned how someone who is not currently among China's busiest A-list stars could struggle to find time in her schedule. 

🍵 #ShenYue was criticized by netizens after she cried on a variety show, saying she didn’t have enough time to spend with her grandmother.
Some netizens commented that if she traveled less, she would have more time to visit her grandmother.#Cent pic.twitter.com/2JLheGpbb2

— 瓜🍉 (@CentGossip_) June 7, 2026

As often happens online, a personal and emotional moment suddenly turned into a public debate where everyone seemed convinced they knew how another person's calendar should be organised.

At the same time, the actress has also been dealing with plagiarism allegations linked to a piece of writing that circulated online. 

The controversy erupted after comparison images appeared on social media claiming that an article associated with Shen Yue closely resembled passages from comic artist Xia Da's 2011 illustrated book Early Summer (Chu Xia). 

Several excerpts were highlighted by users who argued that the similarities were too close to ignore. The situation escalated rapidly, but Shen Yue's fan support organisation moved quickly to reject the allegations. 

According to their statement, the article being discussed was never written or published by the actress. Supporters further claimed that the disputed piece originated from another individual connected to her school rather than from Shen Yue herself.

Rather than ending the discussion, the clarification created an entirely new argument. Supporters viewed it as proof that the actress had been wrongly accused, while critics questioned why confusion over the article's origin existed in the first place. 

Some called for an official response from Shen Yue or her management team directly, arguing that only a formal statement could completely settle the matter.

The debate has become increasingly complicated because it is no longer focused solely on whether the article was authentic. Weibo discussions have expanded into broader arguments about celebrity image, public expectations and fan culture. 

Supporters have pointed to Shen Yue's academic background, her long-standing interest in literature and her creative content as evidence that she never needed to borrow someone else's work. Critics, meanwhile, have revisited older interviews and comments, attempting to challenge the image many fans have built around her over the years.

The backlash comes only weeks after the widely discussed online controversy involving Shen Yue and Dylan Wang (Wang Hedi) following the finale of The Inn 2026. What initially appeared to be an awkward disagreement on screen quickly spiralled into one of the most talked-about celebrity debates on Chinese social media, with fans dissecting every interaction between the two stars. For many viewers, the controversy was particularly shocking because Shen Yue and Dylan Wang had been known as close friends for nearly eight years

That dispute sparked intense debate among fans and reportedly led to significant online friction between the two fandoms. Since then, tensions have remained high across Chinese social media, with every new topic seemingly becoming another battleground.

C-netz on Weibo have noted that discussions surrounding Shen Yue now frequently drift back toward the earlier Dylan Wang controversy, even when the subjects are unrelated. 

As a result, some fans believe recent criticism is being amplified by ongoing fandom rivalries rather than purely by the issues themselves. Some believe Shen Yue is being unfairly targeted and subjected to excessive criticism over matters that have already been clarified or taken out of context.