On May 16, Sina Weibo released the list of the most popular celebrities on Douyin during the first half of 2026. Zhang Linghe ranked No.1 among male stars with 15.63 million points, while Zhao Lusi topped the female category with more than 22 million points.
According to Sina, Zhang Linghe gained massive attention in the first half of 2026 thanks to his role as General Xie Zheng in the historical drama Pursuit of Jade. In terms of viewership, ratings, and social media discussions, the drama has become one of the biggest Chinese historical productions of the year. The series reportedly averages over 80 million views per episode, an impressive achievement that far surpasses many recent costume dramas.
Although Zhang Linghe also faced criticism for appearing too heavily made-up on screen, with some viewers mocking him as a “foundation general” and criticizing his weak action scenes, the controversy itself only boosted the drama’s popularity. Because of that, many people were not surprised to see the actor rank first among male celebrities.
Meanwhile, despite not starring in a drama recently, Zhao Lusi achieved enormous media attention through her concert event in Thailand. Content related to the concert reportedly surpassed 1 billion views on Douyin. The actress also continuously draws public attention through her controversial statements and actions, helping her maintain her status as one of the platform’s most talked-about stars.
However, shortly after the rankings were released, fans of both Zhao Lusi and Zhang Linghe began accusing the opposing side of exaggerating popularity and manipulating data. As a result, both fandoms entered a heated online battle, continuously criticizing and attacking each other.
During the controversy, internet users resurfaced several unflattering moments of Zhang Linghe smiling. Many mocked the actor for squinting his eyes into thin lines while smiling widely, with some netizens commenting that his facial expressions made him look far less attractive. Without lighting and beauty filters, some viewers also claimed his skin appeared rougher than expected. One viral comment even bluntly stated, “Please don’t let him smile anymore.”
Zhang Linghe was also reminded of a previous controversy involving alleged racist remarks during a variety show appearance. While participating in a drawing segment with actress Tian Xiwei, the actor reacted to a portrait by saying, “Who does this look like? I feel like I was born in Southeast Asia.” The comment sparked backlash from viewers, who criticized him for lacking sensitivity and emotional intelligence, eventually forcing him to apologize.
Zhao Lusi also failed to escape criticism as netizens brought back discussions about her revealing stage outfit during a recent music performance, where she accidentally exposed part of her lower body. The actress has previously faced criticism over several controversial statements and actions, with some online users even labeling her a “lying beauty” due to contradictions in her past comments.
In the end, many netizens believe the fan war between Zhao Lusi and Zhang Linghe’s fandoms has brought no real benefit to either celebrity. Instead, the controversy has damaged both stars’ public images and turned them into targets of mockery online.
Sources: kenh14