Rising Chinese actor Tian Xu Ning initially found fame through his complex breakout role in the popular yet controversial boys' love drama Revenged Love. However, he now faces a barrage of accusations threatening to derail his career.
According to Sina and other Chinese media outlets, at least 15 related topics about the 25-year-old actor were trending on Weibo on July 8.
One woman alleged an ongoing romantic relationship led to an unexpected pregnancy, while he had been involved with another.
Another woman stated that Tian encouraged her to conceive a child because it "matched his zodiac destiny," a comment that drew widespread criticism from netizens who labeled the claim as emotionally manipulative.
Tian has denied the accusations, telling fans, "I am still single," in a brief social media statement.
However, many interpreted his response as evasive, pointing to an incident where he was seen crying on a flight after a fan confronted him about the rumors.
Critics accused him of attempting to garner sympathy rather than directly addressing the allegations.
The fallout has had a ripple effect on Tian's career. Fans of actress Shen Yue — his co-star in the upcoming romantic drama One Day in July — have petitioned producers to recast his role.
Meanwhile, Hunan Television is facing pressure to remove him from its flagship variety show Hello Saturday, citing the actor's "alleged infidelity and personal irresponsibility."
The controversy also comes amid what appears to be a growing clampdown on the BL genre in China.
Revenged Love, the drama that catapulted Tian to fame, has been pulled from several streaming platforms.
Fan forums have been deleted, and related search terms have reportedly been restricted online.
Industry watchers view this as part of a broader regulatory effort to curtail media content deemed incompatible with "traditional values."
Tian's swift rise in popularity — including gaining over 1 million Weibo followers in one week and earning millions of likes on selfies — has now reversed, with the public mood shifting rapidly.
Former supporters have called for accountability, with one fan writing, "You can't cry your way out of this."
Rumors swirl of a "silent ban" while he waits to see if scandal can be left behind.
With Tian Xu Ning's career hanging in the balance, the saga underscores modern Chinese celebrities' precarious public standing in an environment of intense online scrutiny.
