LayarHijau – Zhang Linghe has once again found himself at the center of online discussion after claims circulated on Chinese social media that fans or industry insiders could pay as much as 95,000 yuan, or roughly $13,500, for a private photo with the actor. His fans have since stepped in to clarify the situation, stressing that the figure was not a fee set by Zhang Linghe or his studio.
The controversy comes as Zhang Linghe’s popularity has surged following his starring role alongside Tian Xiwei in “Pursuit of Jade” (《逐玉》). The drama gave his career another major boost, with the actor reportedly gaining around 10 million followers across social media platforms within roughly three months of its release.
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Amid that surge in popularity, posts began circulating claiming that a private photo with Zhang Linghe previously cost around 40,000 yuan, or about $5,700. After “Pursuit of Jade” aired, the alleged price was said to have more than doubled to 95,000 yuan, or around $13,500, for a single photo.
The claims gained even more attention after Li Dengke, a blogger who previously worked as an artist manager in China’s entertainment industry, discussed his own experience during a livestream.
Li said he had once tried to arrange a photo with Zhang Linghe while accompanying a friend, but the actor’s team turned down the request.
His story quickly became a topic of discussion among Chinese netizens. Some people who were unfamiliar with the full context mistakenly took it to mean that Zhang Linghe charged people for private photos while refusing to make an exception even for someone with industry connections.
That interpretation led to criticism of the actor, with some netizens accusing him of being stingy.
Zhang Linghe Fans Say the Alleged Fee Came From Middlemen
Zhang Linghe’s fans quickly stepped in to push back against the claims. They stressed that the widely circulated figures of 40,000 yuan and 95,000 yuan were not official fees set by Zhang Linghe or his studio.
According to fans, the prices were allegedly being quoted by scalpers or other third-party middlemen looking to profit from the actor’s growing popularity.
They believe some intermediaries saw Zhang Linghe’s profile soar after “Pursuit of Jade” and used the opportunity to inflate the price for people hoping to meet or take a photo with him.
Fans also warned that offers made through unofficial channels could potentially be scams, since they have no connection to Zhang Linghe or his studio.
To support their side of the story, fans collected several publicly available photos showing Zhang Linghe posing with fans in the past.
The photos show the actor taking pictures with fans who happened to run into him. According to his fans, these encounters did not involve paying Zhang Linghe for a photo.
They also argued that the photos show Zhang Linghe has generally been approachable when he happens to meet fans in public and does not have a practice of charging them simply to take a picture together.
For that reason, fans urged the public not to mistake prices quoted by scalpers or other intermediaries for an official fee charged by the actor.
The Controversy Escalates Into a Fandom Dispute
The issue eventually spilled over into an apparent fandom dispute. Zhang Linghe’s fans began tracing the accounts they believed were among the earliest sources of the claims about his alleged photo fees.
Some fans alleged that one of those accounts was connected to Lu Yuxiao’s fandom. The speculation comes amid tensions between the two fan communities, particularly as Zhang Linghe and Lu Yuxiao are set to star together in the upcoming drama “Ci Tang” (《刺棠》).
Zhang Linghe’s fandom has previously voiced opposition to the collaboration. Against that backdrop, some fans suspected that the photo-fee controversy could be linked to the ongoing conflict between the two fandoms and was being used to damage Zhang Linghe’s image.
However, those allegations remain speculation from fans and have not been independently verified.
Li Dengke Clarifies His Comments
Li Dengke also addressed the backlash after his livestream comments became part of the controversy.
He explained that he had not intended to accuse Zhang Linghe of accepting money in exchange for private photos. Rather, he said he was trying to illustrate how strictly the actor’s team controls access to him.
Li pointed to his own experience as an example, saying that even with his background in the entertainment industry, he was unable to arrange a photo with Zhang Linghe.
He also suggested that the figures circulating online might not actually refer to a fee for a private photo with Zhang Linghe. In his view, the numbers could instead be related to transactions involving a brand endorsement, such as the amount people spend on a brand in exchange for an opportunity to meet or take a photo with the actor.
Even so, some Zhang Linghe fans remained unhappy, arguing that bringing up the figures had only added fuel to the misunderstanding surrounding the actor.
Li subsequently denied accusations that he was deliberately targeting Zhang Linghe or siding with Lu Yuxiao’s fans. He said he had not expected his account of the incident to snowball into a controversy over the actor’s alleged photo fees.
For now, Zhang Linghe’s fans continue to emphasize the distinction between prices allegedly quoted by scalpers or other third parties and any official policy from the actor or his studio.
There is currently no indication that Zhang Linghe or his studio officially set a price of 95,000 yuan for a photo with the actor. Fans have pointed to his past photos with fans as further evidence against the claim that he routinely charges people for taking pictures with him.
