Chinese actor Luhan’s social media accounts restricted after profane livestream incident

By Linh Le January 7, 2025 | 01:50 am PT

Actor Luhan’s social media accounts have been blocked from gaining new followers after he was seen drinking alcohol and making a derogatory gesture towards critics during a livestream.

Chinese actor Luhan. Photo from Luhan's Instagram

According to The Straits Times, users attempting to follow his profiles on popular Chinese platforms Weibo, Xiaohongshu, and Douyin on Monday encountered messages indicating that his accounts had "violated laws and regulations or community norms."

The restrictions are believed to stem from a livestream from November last year, where the actor was observed drinking alcohol and gesturing with his middle finger towards his detractors.

Luhan then released an apology through his management company. In this statement, he expressed regret for his actions, stating: "I sincerely apologise for setting a bad example during the live broadcast."

"I will rectify the negative social consequences and bear responsibility as an artiste," he added. "In future, I will be stricter with my conduct."

The incident sparked significant discussion online, with some netizens supporting Luhan’s actions against his critics, while others condemned his behavior as unsuitable for a public figure, according to a report by the Global Times, which cited Jimu News.

Born Lu Han and widely recognized by his stage name Luhan, the 35-year-old actor initially gained fame as a member of the South Korean-Chinese boy band EXO and its sub-group EXO-M, from which he departed in Oct. 2014.

In 2017, Forbes named him the second highest-paid celebrity in China on its "China Celebrity 100" list, just after Chinese actress Fan Bingbing.