 |
| Li Sitong's brand deal also faces boycott calls and sparks backlash. (Weibo) |
Just weeks after winning over audiences with her breakout performance in Dear You, rising Chinese actress Li Sitong has found herself at the centre of an online storm. The 22-year-old actress is not accused of harming animals herself, but her name has become entangled in a nationwide backlash following a widely reported animal cruelty case in her hometown of Jieyang, Guangdong. The controversy has quickly shifted from outrage over the original incident to debate over whether public figures should be expected to answer for events they had no involvement in.
The case that triggered the backlash involved a stray dog known locally as Wangwang and her three newborn puppies. According to official statements, four boys under the age of 14 were investigated after the animals were found dead in an incident that sparked widespread anger across Chinese social media.
Local authorities later confirmed that a special task force had been formed and that the minors had been sent to specialised education and correction programmes. Because of their ages, they were not subject to criminal prosecution under current law.
 |
Public frustration, however, did not stop there.
Many internet users criticised what they viewed as an inadequate response, while screenshots allegedly showing provocative comments from some local residents circulated widely online, adding even more fuel to an already heated discussion.
 |
Calls for stronger animal protection measures soon spread across social media, with many demanding tougher legal safeguards against animal cruelty.
Several public figures also voiced concern over the case, helping keep the issue in the spotlight. As emotions continued to build, some online users expanded their criticism beyond the incident itself, calling for consumer boycotts of businesses associated with Jieyang.
 |
That wider campaign unexpectedly swept up Li Sitong, simply because she was born there. The timing could hardly have been worse for the actress.
Li Sitong had only recently enjoyed a surge in popularity thanks to Dear You, while her earlier film A Letter to Grandma had already introduced her to a wider audience.
She had also secured one of her first major commercial partnerships, a milestone many young actors spend years working towards.
 |
| Li Sitong's Social Media Update During the Backlash Sparked Even More Anger Among C-netz |
Instead of celebrating that achievement, her promotional campaign was quickly flooded with critical comments. Some social media users questioned why she had not publicly commented on the Jieyang case, while others claimed comments asking her to respond had disappeared from her accounts.
Those claims remain disputed, with supporters arguing that moderation systems may have automatically filtered certain keywords rather than the actress personally removing posts.
The controversy soon reached the brand she had partnered with. Its comment sections became dominated by calls for the company to reconsider the collaboration, with some users threatening to stop supporting the product unless changes were made.
 |
| Li Sitong Faces Boycott Calls After Dog Cruelty Case Sparks Nationwide Outrage |
 |
| Li Sitong's First Brand Deal Hit by Online Boycott Calls After Viral Jieyang Incident |
Before long, reports emerged that promotional materials featuring Li Sitong had been withdrawn, turning what should have been a career breakthrough into an unexpected public relations headache.
The debate became even more heated after several celebrities attempted to speak about the case.
According to online reports, actor Du Jiang repeatedly criticised the incident during livestreams, while posts from actress Joe Chen (Chen Qiao'en) discussing the issue were reportedly removed.
 |
Many fans argued that the actress had become collateral damage in an unrelated controversy. They stressed that there is no evidence linking Li Sitong to the original incident and pointed out that being born in a particular city does not automatically make someone responsible for everything that happens there.
Supporters also highlighted Li Sitong's reputation as someone who has previously shown affection towards animals, rejecting claims that she should be associated with the cruelty case.
 |
They insisted the online narrative had moved far beyond the available facts and argued that internet outrage had found an easy target simply because she happened to be a newly famous face from Jieyang.
For now, Li Sitong has not made any public statement regarding the Jieyang animal cruelty case, and her continued silence has only added to the online debate.