LayarHijau.com – Chinese actor Zhang Han has found himself under public scrutiny once again after behind-the-scenes photos of his latest drama surfaced online. In the leaked images, the 40-year-old star is seen wearing a high school uniform with bangs, seemingly trying to appear youthful. However, his attempt at looking like a student only drew ridicule from netizens.
Many comments online harshly criticized his appearance, claiming it was no longer appropriate for his age. Some said, “He looks like a father who stole his son’s uniform,” while others joked, “Is he taking the college entrance exam this year?” Visible facial lines and a mature aura made the role of a teenager hard to believe for many viewers.
In response to the backlash, Zhang Han quickly issued a statement on social media: “I heard I’ve been ‘archaeologically examined’ for playing a high school student? That was just a flashback scene in my new film. Sorry to bother everyone. Please focus on the present – Li Zhengdao!” He clarified that in this new suspense drama, he actually plays a criminal police captain, and the school uniform scenes are just part of the character’s past., as reported by World Journal.
This marks Zhang Han’s comeback after a three-year hiatus. His reputation took a massive hit in 2022 when his self-produced drama Gentlemen of East 8 sparked outrage due to its inappropriate and controversial content. His character was shown pulling the female lead’s bra strap and groping her chest, which drew widespread criticism and accusations of being “greasy” and inappropriate. Since then, Zhang Han had not released any new projects until now.
Even though he has attempted to clarify the context of the school scenes, netizens remain skeptical about his decision to portray youthful roles at his age. Many suggest that he should embrace more age-appropriate characters, such as a CEO or father figure, instead of clinging to the image of a “young heartthrob.”
Will this new drama help Zhang Han redeem his image, or will it deepen the controversy? Only time will tell.
