LayarHijau – Chinese actress Li Yitong has lost access to a Weibo username she had used for around 10 years after changing it to promote her latest drama, A Prophet (我不是大师). Although the account that registered her former username has been suspended, Weibo has yet to restore the name to the actress.
The problem began when Li Yitong changed her longtime Weibo username, “李一桐Q” (Li Yitong Q), to a name associated with the drama’s promotional campaign. After the series finished airing, she tried to reclaim her original username, only to discover that another user had already registered it.
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On September 24, A Prophet (我不是大师) premiered on iQIYI and Tencent Video. The Chinese title literally translates as “I’m Not a Master.” In the context of a story involving fortune-telling, the term “master” can refer to someone believed to possess special abilities, such as a fortune teller. A Prophet, meanwhile, is the drama’s official English title, which differs from the literal translation of its Chinese title.
To promote the series, Li Yitong and her co-star Li Xian changed their Weibo usernames and profile pictures at the same time. Their new usernames followed a similar format, leading some internet users to mistakenly believe that the two actors were announcing a romantic relationship.
However, what began as a promotional move ended up creating an unexpected problem for Li Yitong.
According to reports circulating in Chinese media, Weibo provides a 48-hour protection period after a user changes their username. Once that period expires, the former username can return to the pool of available names and be registered by another user.
Because the drama’s promotional campaign lasted much longer than two days, Li Yitong missed the opportunity to secure her original username before the protection period ended. By the time she tried to reclaim it, “李一桐Q” (Li Yitong Q) had already been registered by someone else.
On October 8, Li Yitong turned to Weibo to ask for help. She explained that she could not change her username back to its original form and invited netizens to suggest a new one.
Her current username is “我不是大师是李一桐Q,” which literally translates as “I’m Not a Master Is Li Yitong Q.” The name combines the Chinese title of A Prophet with the actress’s name. In the context of the promotional campaign, it can be understood as “A Prophet Is Li Yitong Q,” although the drama’s official English title differs from the literal meaning of its Chinese title.
Her post quickly attracted suggestions from fans, turning the comment section into a lively discussion about what her new username should be.
On the same day, a reporter discovered that the account that had registered “李一桐Q” (Li Yitong Q) had been suspended for violating Weibo’s Community Guidelines. However, suspending the account did not automatically return the username to Li Yitong. She would still need to appeal to the platform or wait for the name to become available again.
The incident has sparked debate among Chinese netizens. Some have questioned the use of the word “snatched” to describe what happened, arguing that once the protection period expires, other users are entitled to register an available username under the platform’s rules.
Others have questioned the grounds for the account suspension. They believe the platform should clarify whether registering a username previously used by a celebrity is, by itself, sufficient reason to suspend an account.
Some fans have also urged Li Yitong’s management team to contact Weibo directly. They are concerned that someone could misuse the actress’s name to impersonate her or engage in activities that could harm her or her fans.
Stories of people targeting celebrity usernames are reportedly not new in China’s entertainment industry. Some individuals are said to wait for celebrities to release their original usernames before registering them immediately. Such names could then allegedly be used to impersonate celebrities and solicit virtual gifts from fans, or to pressure the original owners into paying to reclaim their usernames. However, these allegations do not establish that the person who registered Li Yitong’s former username had any such intentions.
For an actress, a username used for a decade is more than just a social media handle. It can also serve as a familiar point of reference for fans searching for her official account, recognizing her online presence and following her activities.
Despite the inconvenience, Li Yitong appeared relatively relaxed while interacting with fans in the comments. For now, she continues to use the lengthy username “我不是大师是李一桐Q” (I’m Not a Master Is Li Yitong Q), which combines the Chinese title of her latest drama with her own name.
The incident has also highlighted the importance of securing an original username before changing it for promotional purposes. Li Yitong’s team apparently did not reserve the original name through an alternative account, causing them to miss the 48-hour protection window.
Although the account that registered the username has been suspended, the future of “李一桐Q” (Li Yitong Q) remains uncertain. It is still unclear whether Li Yitong will be able to reclaim the name she used for around a decade or will have to keep her new username permanently.
The case also raises questions about how Weibo should handle celebrity usernames that become available again after being changed for promotional campaigns.
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