LayarHijau.com – Chinese actress Zhang Ruonan has once again found herself under intense scrutiny on Chinese social media. But this time, it’s not because of a new project—it’s due to the viral hashtag #ZhangRuonanSweepingtheFlooratHupu, which has resurfaced an old controversy that is now further complicated by her current status as one of Hupu’s “Goddesses”, having placed in the top three in the platform’s annual contest.
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The sudden spike in discussion was triggered by one or more Weibo users who reposted an old photo of Zhang Ruonan from April 2021. The image showed her posing in front of Hupu’s “culture wall,” a background that has since been deemed problematic due to some of the text and comments displayed on it. The posts quickly went viral, sparking heated debates across the internet.
Hupu’s Culture Wall: A Reflection of Community or a Source of Sexist Jokes?
At the center of this renewed controversy is a photo taken during Zhang Ruonan’s promotional tour for the film On Your Wedding Day/ My Love (你的婚礼) at Hupu headquarters. The actress posed in front of what is known as Hupu’s “culture wall” (虎扑办公楼内那面“实体墙”), located in the company’s main office. This wall was intended to showcase the vibrant, high-energy spirit of the Hupu community, designed to inspire both employees and visitors and symbolize the brand’s cultural identity.
According to Sina News, the wall featured common slogans and motivational phrases such as “Compete for MVP” (竞争MVP), “Full of Energy” (元气满满), and “Wild Growth” (野蛮生长)—messages aligned with Hupu’s youthful and passionate brand image. However, the controversy centers on the inclusion of user-generated content—comments pulled from popular forums and bullet screen discussions—which were printed and displayed on the wall.
Though Hupu’s operations team claimed to have carefully selected representative and interactive comments while avoiding vulgar or rule-breaking content, some of the displayed text still contained gender stereotypes, off-color jokes, and questionable phrases. These included objectifying statements such as “How would you rate these legs?”, inviting users to rate women’s body parts, or phrases like “Marry me, goddess!”, which, though seemingly flattering, may imply possessiveness or ownership over women.
These types of jokes have long been normalized on Hupu’s male-dominated forums but are now facing public scrutiny for promoting a culture of objectification. As a result, Zhang Ruonan’s image in front of that very wall—especially considering her innocent and pure “first love” public persona—has sparked intense debate about awareness, image management, and gender perception.
Why Promote Films on Hupu?
Originally a sports-focused forum, Hupu has evolved into a large online community that discusses everything from sports to entertainment, gaming, and pop culture. Its user base remains predominantly young men, making it a strategic platform for promoting certain films.
Production teams often organize special campaigns or events on Hupu to tap into this targeted demographic. Zhang Ruonan’s 2021 promotional visit was one such example. However, the decision to include the culture wall as a photo backdrop has now backfired, given the reexamination of its contents.
The “Goddess” Title That Fueled the Fire
Ironically, the controversy reemerged just after Zhang Ruonan achieved a major popularity milestone on the same platform. In August 2024, she placed in the top three of Hupu’s annual “Goddess Contest,” a fan-driven event that crowns the platform’s most admired female celebrities.
Zhang’s natural beauty, soft aura, and clean image resonated deeply with many male users on Hupu, evoking nostalgia for “first love” and offering a refreshing contrast to the exaggerated aesthetics common in entertainment today. According to China.com, her vote count nearly rivaled that of veteran actress Gao Yuanyuan.
However, her popularity on a platform known for controversial humor and male-dominated discourse has created a paradox. Critics argue that her status as a “Hupu Goddess” now unintentionally legitimizes or whitewashes a culture that has historically objectified women. Even though Hupu removed the wall in 2023 to address such concerns, Zhang’s lingering association with the image has reignited unresolved tensions.
Studio Response and Evolving Social Values
Zhang Ruonan’s studio responded by stating that the actress was unaware of the detailed content displayed on the wall and was simply fulfilling a standard film promotional duty. Meanwhile, Hupu itself took action by removing the controversial wall entirely in 2023 as part of its own reflection on past community practices.
The incident illustrates a broader cultural shift in China, where jokes and content once considered harmless are now being reevaluated through a more socially conscious lens—especially when it comes to gender equality and respect for women in public discourse.
Weibo Reactions
Reactions on Weibo have been mixed, with mostly defending Zhang Ruonan while others remain critical of her role in the photo.
Supportive comments include:
“That photo was from 2021—back then, people weren’t as aware of how problematic the wall was.”
“She was just doing her job promoting a movie. It’s not her responsibility to vet every background.”
“Zhang Ruonan has always maintained a clean image. This is just another internet pile-on.”
However, others criticized her perceived lack of awareness, and some even mocked her by referencing the former name of her fanbase, “楠朋友” (Nan Pengyou), which sounds like “boyfriend” in Chinese. When public criticism about the fanbase name first arose, Zhang Ruonan’s team was accused of blaming the fans rather than taking responsibility—an incident now being brought back into the conversation as part of a pattern of tone-deaf behavior.
This resurfaced controversy—combined with her rising status as a Hupu icon—highlights the complex balancing act celebrities must navigate in the digital age. A single promotional photo taken years ago can suddenly become a flashpoint in debates over gender, image, and evolving social standards. Whether Zhang Ruonan’s reputation will weather this latest storm remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the internet never forgets.
