LayarHijau.com – Dylan Wang and Shen Yue are facing intense public attention following an awkward incident on the variety show The Inn 2026. What began as a joke during the program’s finale quickly turned into one of the hottest topics on Chinese social media, with many netizens describing it as the “collapse of an eight-year friendship overnight.”
The controversy also appeared to affect the stars’ social media popularity. According to figures widely circulated online, Dylan Wang reportedly lost more than 200,000 followers after publicly admitting that he felt uncomfortable during the incident. Meanwhile, Shen Yue gained sympathy from many netizens for her swift apology and calm handling of the situation. Reports claimed her follower count increased by more than 450,000, including over 300,000 new followers in just one day.
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The reports did not specify which social media platform the numbers came from, although most of the discussions surrounding the controversy took place on Weibo.
The issue began during the show’s closing segment when Shen Yue and several guests presented Dylan Wang with a joking award intended to encourage him to relax and “just be himself.” However, the atmosphere quickly became awkward after the host accidentally added an extra word while reading the award title, making the phrase sound harsher than originally intended.
The situation became even more uncomfortable after one line in the speech revealed that the group had a private chat without Dylan Wang in it. Cameras later captured the actor looking visibly surprised and uneasy.
After the episode aired, Dylan Wang shared a late-night post saying that he only realized how uncomfortable the moment truly felt after reading online discussions and analyses from viewers.
“I really did feel uncomfortable at the time,” he wrote.
His studio later released a statement emphasizing that everyone’s emotions and personal boundaries deserve respect.
Many netizens defended Dylan Wang, arguing that jokes between friends can still cross the line and hurt someone’s feelings. Others praised him for openly expressing his emotions instead of silently enduring them.
However, another group of netizens criticized the actor for turning what they viewed as a private friendship issue into a public controversy. Past remarks Dylan Wang made on other variety shows were soon brought back into discussion, including jokes about Huang Xiaoming being “half buried already,” calling Shen Yue “stupid,” and suggesting actor-only group chats that excluded directors and production staff. Critics accused him of holding double standards by being harsh toward others while reacting strongly when he became the target of jokes himself.
In contrast, Shen Yue received widespread praise for the way she handled the situation. She quickly posted a lengthy apology explaining that the award had been intended as a lighthearted compliment about Dylan Wang’s genuine personality rather than an attempt to embarrass him.
Shen Yue also shared screenshots from work group chats to clarify the context behind the incident. Her calm and sincere response gradually shifted public opinion in her favor, with many netizens praising her maturity and emotional intelligence.
Dylan Wang and Shen Yue first rose to fame together in the 2018 remake of Meteor Garden, where they played Dao Ming Si and Shan Cai. Their strong on-screen chemistry later developed into a close real-life friendship, and fans long viewed them as one of the closest celebrity friendships in the Chinese entertainment industry.
Even in recent years, the pair frequently appeared together in short videos, social media content, and dance challenges, helping maintain the popularity of the “DiYue” pairing among fans.
That is why the latest controversy came as a shock to many longtime supporters. Rumors that their friendship may have become strained quickly spread online, while some fans of the duo were also said to have unfollowed them following the incident.
Seriously, it seems like a joke between friends so allow them to discuss anything that comes between friends and you, fans or netizens…stop fueling the controversy you all started and leave Dylan Wang and Shen Yue alone.