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| Key to the Phoenix Heart Director Faces Backlash After Joke About Hou Minghao and Ai Mi Goes Viral. (Photo: iQIYI) |
The promotional tour for Key to the Phoenix Heart (雀骨) was supposed to keep the spotlight on the drama's romance, but instead it has become dominated by an awkward off-screen moment. A joke made by the series' director about lead stars Hou Minghao and Chen Ai Mi possibly developing real feelings for one another has triggered widespread criticism online, with many viewers saying it crossed a line rather than landing as harmless humour.
The period romance only began airing last week and has been performing steadily in its time slot, yet much of the conversation surrounding the series has centred on something entirely unrelated to its storyline.
Ever since the casting was announced, audiences have discussed the age difference between the two leads. Ai Mi was still a minor for most of the production, while Hou Minghao was already in his late twenties.
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Although both actors were simply doing the roles they were hired to perform, some viewers had already expressed discomfort over the pairing.
That conversation intensified during a recent promotional event when the director praised the chemistry between the two stars. He remarked that their performances looked so convincing that he sometimes wondered whether they had genuinely developed feelings for each other while filming.
The audience laughed, but the atmosphere shifted almost instantly as cameras captured the reactions of the actors standing beside him.
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| Hou Minghao's Priceless Reaction Steals Spotlight After Key to the Phoenix Heart Director's Awkward Comment |
It was Hou Minghao's expression that quickly became the talking point. The actor appeared completely caught off guard, leaning forward with widened eyes and a face that seemed to scream, "Please don't drag me into this."
Beside him, Ai Mi laughed awkwardly, covering part of her face as the moment unfolded. Their reactions spread across Chinese social media within hours, with countless viewers replaying the clip and commenting that the actors looked far more uncomfortable than amused.
감독이 둘이 진짜 감정 생긴 거 아닌가 의심스러운데 이러니까 남자 당황스러워서 거북이 보다 목 더 앞으로 나옴 ㅆㅂ pic.twitter.com/AdC6qEg3Cq
— 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵 (@marshoum) July 15, 2026
Ironically, the internet paid less attention to the director's punchline than to Hou Minghao's attempt to mentally exit the stage without actually moving.
His expression became an instant meme, with many joking that his neck stretched forward so quickly it deserved its own acting credit. Sometimes silence says more than any carefully prepared media answer ever could.
The discussion has become particularly sensitive because Ai Mi only recently turned 18 during the drama's promotional period. She was younger when filming began and remained underage through much of the production schedule.
That context has led many viewers to argue that jokes implying an off-screen romance were unnecessary, regardless of whether they were intended as light-hearted banter.
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Neither Hou Minghao nor Ai Mi responded directly to the remark during the event. Instead, they later recreated one of the drama's romantic confession scenes for fans.
Hou Minghao delivered his character's heartfelt confession before Ai Mi replied in character, only for both actors to burst into laughter seconds later, struggling to keep straight faces.
Fans praised the pair for maintaining professionalism despite the earlier awkward exchange.
a aimi gravou esse drama com DEZESSETE ANOS. ela fez 18 anos há APENAS DOIS DIAS e a equipe de promoção preparou um evento cheio de fanservice baseado nas cenas românticas. para piorar, o diretor fala isso SABENDO que ela era menor e o ator maior de idade quando gravou. absurdo. https://t.co/Io5kHrUpfN pic.twitter.com/Rhq8L6GDeH
— li zhen's ink (@cdramanoveland) July 15, 2026
The strongest criticism focused on timing and context rather than humour itself. Many users questioned why such a remark needed to be made publicly when they believed it risked fuelling unnecessary speculation about the actors' personal lives.
Some comments described the joke as inappropriate, while others criticised the production team for creating an avoidable controversy during what should have been a routine promotional event.
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A handful of the more emotional reactions went even further, with some angry c-netz posting dramatic messages calling for action against the director. They wondered aloud what conversations might take place behind closed doors if that kind of joke was considered acceptable during an official media session.
Meanwhile, plenty of fans stepped in to defend Hou Minghao and Ai Mi, saying neither actor deserved to become part of the controversy. Supporters argued they simply handled an uncomfortable situation as gracefully as possible, with Hou Minghao's visibly panicked reaction interpreted by many as an attempt to avoid any misunderstanding rather than encourage further speculation.