LayarHijau — Chinese actress Zhang Ruonan has come under online scrutiny after a brief on-set clip from the upcoming romance drama I Live in Your Time went viral, sparking debate over professionalism during filming. In the series, she stars alongside actor Wang Anyu, and the project has been highly anticipated by fans.
The controversy began on April 16, when a short, blurry behind-the-scenes video surfaced online. In the clip, Zhang is seen turning around after reacting to fans calling out while filming was already in progress. The moment caused Wang Anyu, who was fully in character at the time, to break his performance, forcing the production crew to reset and reshoot the scene.
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The footage quickly spread across social media platforms, where it triggered criticism from some netizens who accused Zhang of being unprofessional and disrupting the shoot. Others pushed back, arguing that the clip lacks full context and may not accurately reflect what happened on set, especially given how easily short leaked videos can be taken out of context.
#ZhangRuonan faces backlash after a viral on-set clip from “I Live in Your Time” showed her turning toward fans calling out during a scene, causing a retake. Her studio has now demanded clarification from the production team.
Full story 👇 pic.twitter.com/Xpfs3jujpF— Layar Hijau (@layar_hijau) April 17, 2026
In response to the growing discussion, Zhang’s management team issued a strong statement on April 17. The studio directly tagged the official Weibo account of the drama I Live in Your Time, demanding clarification about the situation on set. “What is the truth? Why don’t you come out and explain it?” the studio said, shifting attention toward production management and away from placing blame solely on the actress.
The incident also reignited discussion around “daipai,” or unauthorized photographers who frequently capture and leak behind-the-scenes footage from film and television sets. Supporters of Zhang argued that the clip may have been selectively edited or missing key context, and that unexpected external noise could have disrupted the shoot, making her reaction a natural, split-second response rather than unprofessional behavior.
Beyond the controversy, Zhang is also known for her down-to-earth personality. At the Weibo Night 2025 ceremony held in February 2026, she went viral after slipping and falling on the red carpet while wearing a heavy black gown. Rather than appearing embarrassed, she quickly recovered, fixed her appearance on the spot, and later joked about the incident. She embraced the moment by calling herself the “fall queen,” even recreating the scene in a humorous video and joking that red carpets should be turned into obstacle courses.
Her acting ability has also been praised by veteran director Zheng Xiaolong during their collaboration on Live Up to Your Youth. He reportedly complimented her performance and jokingly asked if she would consider a cameo in one of his future projects. Zhang responded confidently, saying, “If the script is good and the schedule works, I wouldn’t just do it for free—I’d even pay to audition.”
That comment has since been widely circulated online, reflecting her reputation as an actress who is selective, grounded, and serious about her craft, from her breakout role in Cry Me a Sad River to later successes in My Love and The First Frost.
