LayarHijau – Chinese actor Zhang Linghe has come under scrutiny after his comments on the variety show Hello Saturday sparked controversy and backlash from some Southeast Asian fans.
Zhang Linghe appeared on the show alongside Tian Xiwei to promote their latest costume drama, Pursuit of Jade, which is currently airing.
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The incident occurred during the episode aired on March 6. In one of the game segments, guests were asked to guess a simple sketch drawn by Tian Xiwei.
Responding to the drawing, Zhang Linghe joked that it “looked like it was born in Southeast Asia.” He added another comment saying the sketch also resembled Yang Di, who is well-known in China for his appearances on various entertainment programs. Zhang Linghe’s comment on the sketch immediately drew criticism from Southeast Asian fans, who considered his remark stereotypical.
Clips of the segment quickly spread on international social media, triggering debates. Many netizens criticized his remarks as stereotyping and offensive to certain regions.
As the controversy grew, the program reportedly removed the portion of the episode containing Zhang Linghe’s comment from official broadcasts.
Zhang Linghe also issued a public apology on his personal Instagram account, writing:
“I am truly sorry that my words on the variety show caused any of you discomfort. Please know that I always believe every culture has its own beauty – and it was never my intention to cause any hurt or be disrespectful. Over the years, I have been touched by the incredible support from fans across Southeast Asia – whether through messages, letters, or even traveling all the way to China to see me. I am deeply grateful for all of it, and the last thing I would ever want is for anyone who supports me to feel sad because of this misunderstanding.”
The topic quickly became widely discussed in China. On March 10, 2026, the hashtag “Zhang Linghe Apologizes” briefly reached the top spot on Weibo trending list, while a second hashtag about whether Hello Saturday would remove the segment containing his controversial comment ranked second.
Public reactions remain divided. Some netizens feel the backlash was an overreaction to a joke, while others argue that the comment was inappropriate as it could reinforce stereotypes about appearance and regional identity.
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