LayarHijau– Chinese actor He Congrui, 28, widely regarded as one of the top male stars in the short-form drama scene, has come under fire following remarks he made during a recent livestream. The actor rose to prominence through the short dramas Please Enter My Heart and Lingering in Mind, both of which surpassed a combined total of 30 billion views, cementing his status at the forefront of China’s booming short drama industry.
The controversy began when He Congrui interacted with fans during a livestream and addressed complaints about dramas being released in the early hours of the morning. He stressed that broadcast schedules are determined entirely by production teams and are beyond an actor’s control.
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During the livestream, He repeatedly emphasized that the timing of a drama’s release “had nothing to do with him,” rejecting criticism directed his way. He also referenced several of his projects, including the short drama Four Sisters (四姐妹), explaining that such works are primarily told from a female perspective, with male roles not positioned as the central focus.
It was in this context that He Congrui described himself as merely a “decorative lead,” a comment that quickly sparked controversy. Many netizens interpreted the remark as an attempt to distance himself from responsibility while implicitly shifting the burden of a drama’s success or failure onto the female leads.
The backlash spread rapidly across social media. Numerous viewers expressed anger, arguing that fans had stayed up late to support his dramas only to feel dismissed by his comments. Critics accused the actor of lacking accountability and respect toward his audience.
At the same time, some netizens defended He Congrui, suggesting that his remarks had been taken out of context and were originally intended as a joke, albeit one that was poorly timed and inappropriate for a public platform.
As the debate intensified, He Congrui issued a public apology via his Weibo account. He acknowledged that his comments were an ill-considered joke and admitted that referring to himself as a “decorative lead” was an inappropriate choice of words.
In his statement, He Congrui also apologized directly to the actresses he has worked with and to the entire production teams. He emphasized that the success or failure of any drama should be shared collectively by all cast and crew members, and pledged to be more cautious with his words and conduct in the future.
