Chinese actors Dylan Wang and Shen Yue recently became the center of online debate following the finale episode of the Chinese variety show The Inn 2026. What began as a joking award segment on the program later escalated into accusations of bullying, public apologies, fan wars and scrutiny of the actor’s past behavior.
The controversy started during the show’s finale awards ceremony. As the acting inn manager throughout the season, Dylan Wang had spent much of the program leading activities and supporting the cast.
During the final segment, however, several cast members jokingly presented him with a humorous award instead of a serious tribute. Host Wu Zelin introduced the prize by praising Dylan’s leadership before presenting him with a joking title that translated to “Best You’re Just a Wang Hedi Award.”
The segment also included comments about there being group chats without him and wordplay involving his Chinese name. While the cast appeared to treat the moment humorously, some viewers felt the jokes crossed the line into public embarrassment.
The backlash intensified after Dylan later addressed the situation on social media. In his post, he admitted that he had initially wondered whether he was being overly sensitive but eventually concluded that he had genuinely felt uncomfortable during the segment. His statement quickly spread online and fueled wider discussions about workplace bullying, friendship boundaries and whether the interactions shown on the program could be considered “sugar-coated bullying.”
Much of the criticism soon shifted on Shen Yue, who was a cast of the show and revealed to have come up with the “You’re Just a Wang Hedi” award title. Dylan Wang and Shen Yue previously starred together in 2018 Chinese remake of Meteor Garden, where their pairing became highly popular among viewers under the nickname “DiYue.”
Their reunion on The Inn 2026 had initially attracted strong fan interest due to their long history together since the early stages of their careers. As the online criticism grew after the finale, Shen Yue publicly apologized to Dylan Wang and viewers affected by the incident.
She explained that the phrase was originally intended as an inside joke meant to encourage him to temporarily let go of his responsibilities as the inn manager and relax as himself again. According to her statement, she believed Dylan deserved recognition for carrying the show and never intended to mock or belittle him.
However, she acknowledged that she failed to consider how he might feel hearing the joke publicly and apologized for overlooking his emotions. Shen Yue also addressed another part of the controversy involving private group chats that excluded Dylan Wang.
During the finale, cast members joked that they had group chats without him, which some viewers interpreted as evidence of deliberate exclusion. In response, Shen Yue clarified that the comments on the show were exaggerated for humor.
As the controversy expanded, public opinion became divided. Some viewers sympathized with Dylan Wang and felt the award segment genuinely made him uncomfortable in front of a national audience. Others believed Shen Yue’s explanation showed there had been no malicious intent and argued that she became unfairly targeted.
Netizens also began revisiting Dylan Wang’s past behavior on variety shows and public programs. Netizens accused him of applying double standards by speaking publicly about feeling hurt while having previously joked about or behaved roughly toward other celebrities himself.
Some commenters also argued that friendships and variety programs often involve teasing and that his public statement unnecessarily escalated the matter. The issue also sparked concern among fans who felt Dylan Wang’s post unintentionally exposed Shen Yue to large-scale online harassment. Some believed the situation could have been resolved privately rather than publicly, especially given the close relationship the two actors were believed to share over the years.
Shen Yue clarifies private group chats as both studios release statements amid Dylan Wang controversy and unfollowing rumors
Shen Yue later shared screenshots and explanations stating that the actual chats without Dylan had practical purposes rather than malicious intent. One was reportedly created to organize support screenings and theater bookings for Dylan Wang’s new movie. Another was made for a hotpot dinner gathering because Dylan was not attending, while a separate chat involved only the program’s directors and selected members for work-related coordination.
Despite the clarification, the situation continued to grow online after both actors’ studios released statements supporting their respective artists. Shen Yue’s studio posted a supportive message encouraging her, while Dylan Wang’s studio defended his right to express discomfort, stating that sensitivity should not be viewed as weakness. The involvement of both studios caused the issue to gain even greater traction on Chinese social media platforms.
As the debate continued, online speculation also emerged claiming that Dylan Wang and Shen Yue may have deleted each other from their messaging apps, causing related keywords to trend on Chinese hot search rankings. Neither side has directly confirmed those rumors.
Edited by Adrija Chakraborty
Recent Comments