Zhang Zhehan
Zhang Zhehan (; born 11 May 1991) is a Chinese actor and singer. His first major role was as Wei Ying in the Chinese historical drama "Legend of Ban Shu" (2015). He is best known for his roles in "Legend of Yunxi" (2018), "The Blooms at Ruyi Pavilion" (2020) and "Word of Honor" (2021). In 2020, he received the Weibo Award for Rising Artist of the Year. He won the Weibo Movie Night award for Most Watched/Followed Actor of the Year in June 2021. In 2021, Zhang faced severe boycott in China after being involved in a controversy  over photos taken years earlier in Japan outside of the Yasukuni Shrine and Nogi Shrine due to the shrines' honoring of imperial Japanese military officers who invaded China, resulting in the removal of his online social media accounts, movies, television shows and music. Early life. Zhang Zhehan was born in Xinyu, Jiangxi province, China on May 11, 1991. He graduated from the Shanghai Theatre Academy. Career. In 2010, Zhang made his acting debut in the romantic drama "Why Love You". Thereafter, he signed a contract with Yu Zheng's studio, and played the leading role in the comedy web series  Crazy for Palace and its sequel. The series gained a small following online. Zhang then went on to act in various supporting roles in dramas produced by Yu Zheng; such as "", "The Romance of the Condor Heroes" and "Love Yunge from the Desert". He first gained recognition playing the role of the antagonist in the mystery costume drama "Cosmetology High", and went on to portray young Mei Changsu in the acclaimed historical drama "Nirvana in Fire." In 2015, Zhang played the male lead in historical drama "Legend of Ban Shu" with Jing Tian. He went on to play lead roles  in the spy drama "Decoded", and headlined both seasons of the fantasy web series "Demon Girl". In 2018, Zhang played in the historical romance drama "Legend of Yunxi" alongside Ju Jingyi. The series received much praise for its storyline. In 2019, Zhang performed in the disaster film "The Bravest" as a firefighter. He starred as Wang Yue in the short film "Brother", which was directed by Vicky Zhao. He has also appeared as a regular member in the variety show "Everybody Standby". In 2020, Zhang starred in the romantic drama "Everyone Wants to Meet You" produced by Zhao Wei. Zhang  also appeared in the historical romance drama "The Blooms at Ruyi Pavilion" alongside Ju Jingyi. In 2021, Zhang starred alongside Gong Jun in the Wuxia drama series "Word of Honor", which is an adaptation of the BL novel "Tian Ya Ke" by Priest. He played the role of Zhou Zishu, an elite royal service leader who leaves his past and starts anew. He then met Wen Kexing, a mysterious martial arts master. Both embark on a journey together and find soulmates in each other. "Word of Honor" gained popularity in and outside of China, especially after the show aired on  Netflix. The show's first episode has accumulated over 8.7 million views on Youtube, and its popularity put the two male leads Gong Jun and Zhang under the spotlight, becoming overnight sensations. Controversy. On August 13, 2021, photos surfaced online of Zhang posing in front of cherry blossom trees near Japan's Yasukuni Shrine in 2018 and of him attending a wedding ceremony at Nogi Shrine in 2019. The shrines are controversial in China due to their honoring of imperial Japanese military officers who invaded China. At the wedding, Zhang also took a photo with Dewi Sukarrno, who was incorrectly  labeled by Weibo users as "a right-wing anti-Chinese politician". The photos sparked outrage among Chinese netizens. Zhang issued an apology, stating: "Today, I deeply apologize for my past ignorance, my shame and especially my previous improper behaviour. I attended a friend’s wedding in Japan. It is my mistake for the oversight of [not knowing] the historical background behind the wedding venue and the political background of the other wedding guests. When I used to travel everywhere, I liked to casually take pictures. Due to the lack of understanding for the local architecture and the history and being  careless about the content when taking pictures, when I took the pictures, it resulted in content that seriously harmed the feelings of compatriots. I also solemnly apologize here, I am sorry." In response, the "People's Daily" stated: "As a public figure, a lack of historical knowledge and unknowingness of the suffering of the nation is unacceptable." The China Association of Performing Arts (CAPA), a voluntary association made up of management companies and members of the entertainment industry, called for a boycott on Zhang due to the controversial photos. Numerous brand endorsements terminated their association with Zhang. His upcoming films  and television shows also ended their associations with him; Tencent Video, Youku, iQIYI and Mango TV took down his works from their streaming platforms in China voluntarily and Zhang's scenes in the movie "1921" were replaced by another actor. Sina Weibo shut down his Super Topic, and his personal and studio accounts were removed from Douyin, Douban and other Chinese sites. QQ Music and NetEase Music removed Zhang's songs from their music platforms. Li Xuezheng, the Vice Chairman of the China TV Artists Association and Director of the Golden Shield Television Center questioned the authority of the China  Association of Performing Arts (CAPA) to issue a blacklist of artists, which had included Zhang. Li says Zhang was not blacklisted by the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) or the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, who, Li argues, are the only authorities able to blacklist people in the industry. According to Chinese regulations, issuing a "boycott announcement" is not within the scope of CAPA's business. He questioned who compiled the list, what criteria was used, and whether CAPA has the legal power to impose sanctions against Chinese online influencers and performers. Li said he was prepared to help  Zhang file a lawsuit against CAPA since he believes Zhang did not violate any laws in order for him to be censored. The allegations that Zhang had visited Japan's Yasukuni Shrine and taken photographs with an anti-Chinese politician are likely fabricated. In December 2021, Zhang filed a police report over online defamation.