If you’ve been a fangirl for a long time then chances are you’ve encountered fanfictions or you’ve even written one before.
And a series as popular as BL-novel based The Untamed with two handsome leads Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo naturally did not escape the fanfic world. Stories like what could have been or what happened after the finale were made by fans for fans and were posted on different websites, one of them is Archive of Our Own or AO3, a popular haven for fanfic writers to let their imaginations go wild.
However, it seems like many of Xiao Zhan’s supporters were offended by the stories and protested that all of them should be taken down especially those that focus on their idol’s romance with male characters claiming that it is disrespectful and staining Xiao Zhan’s image. It easily made an uproar online with some people defending fanworks.
Coincidentally on February 29, the AO3 website became inaccessible in China. AO3 said that the problem does not lie on their end resulting in the speculation that Xiao Zhan’s fans reporting the site led to its shut down whereas some are saying that the outcome was actually due to the Chinese government’s attempt to purge explicit media content falling under the category of queer.
Although the actor himself is innocent, his studio took responsibility and issued a statement: “Hello everyone, this is Xiao Zhan Studio. The discussion about Xiao Zhan’s fans have caught our attention recently, for taking up a portion of public resources and causing everyone trouble, we extend our deepest regrets and apologies to those affected by this.
We are very grateful for the support and love fans have for Xiao Zhan. At the same time we sincerely call out, all the love should be positive and productive, hope that everyone can chase after their idols within reason. While looking after their personal safety during this epidemic, let’s work hard together to support the community and bring about positivity.
As the whole country fights the epidemic, Xiao Zhan has been in isolation at home and actively supports the control measures to fight the epidemic. Hope everyone can resume work safely and live happily, peacefully, working hard for a better tomorrow! – Xiao Zhan Studio March 1, 2020″
There’s nothing wrong with fanfictions, writing them is just another way of showing how much a show or book has affected one’s life. If you don’t like it, skip it but don’t rain on anyone’s parade.
Source: 1
Anonymous
i think this is the clearest article i read so far. others are saying that XZ apologized for the ao3 situation but he never said anything about that he's apologizing for his fan's because they are making trends on weibo instead of the virus
Anonymous
Xiao Zhan is such a talented actor, excellent singer, hard worker & a lovable person. His smile can light up the sky. I'm looking forward to see all his work. I wish these people would stop hurting these actors with stupid things.
Anonymous
Poor guy. He shouldn't have to take responsibility for his crazy fans.
Anonymous
Suspect the government is involved because the site shut down like YT and FB.
Antis who are jealous of XZ's quick stardom also couldn't wait to see him step down, they could have pretended to be fans to make the report too so they can blame his fans, so who knows. As if it never happened before, lots of the fake crazy fans who criticized every actress working with him were also antis pretending to mix in with his real fans too. It's the same tactic.
I don't know if that fanfic is about, if it is a good story then the antis are most suspected because they don't want XZ to be in a good story.
If the story is extremely disgusting and it makes sense why it should be reported whether the actors are XZ and WYB or not, then the fans are right. Either way the fans still have more win-win.
WYB is in the fan fic too, if the story is really bad WYB should be affected as well because his fans are not any less. It adds up that the haters are all attacking XZ alone.
Anonymous
Good explanation of the whole thing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-YuIIhn900
After AO3 got censored, people went nuts and there were suicide threats and acts on both sides (writers and XZ fans), some people are in the hospital right now. These are young girls involved, high school and college students.
And also this is a case of fans using China's censorship laws to actually go after people in real life – as in, reporting them to authorities so that the government goes after these people in their homes. There is no anonymity in fandom when it comes to China.
Bottom line is that a crazy amount of damage has been caused, people are shocked and scared about how out of control it got, and how many people got really, really hurt because of it.
ceruleanxstar
This has gone much, MUCH farther than what this article on Drama Panda covers. It isn't just about censorship or AO3 not being available to China anymore. It's that there's proof that the government can just go and find anyone, based on fans attacking them and reporting them to the censorship authorities – like this is a LEGITIMATE STRATEGY THAT WORKED and resulted in people who are now in the hospital due to suicide attempts.
Anonymous
ofc it is farther they can only cover so much or they'll get banned too if they cover political agenda
Anonymous
All countries have censorship laws, some wider, some narrower. Any citizen of any country can report anything to his own government if it is legit. All governments have the right to enforce its own laws. The real issue here that there are a lot of people out there, who cannot separate real life from imaginary one, whose only interest seem to be around their idols or their cyber world. Very sad indeed.
Anonymous
After the Hugo Publicity last year, many Chinese officials openly declared that they will look into Ao3 matters. The fans of XZ are not powerful enough to influence the decision of Chinese government. the timing was too bad.
Anonymous
1) Creative freedom is so important and the power to strip it away is a scary thing
2)Fandom obsession continues to be disturbing and toxic. Admire an idol but don't resolve your (general sens of the world) life around that person. Fans need to learn how to detach themselves from such obsession.
3)Mental health need to have a bigger importance here. I heard that people have attempted suicide and are hospitalized because Ao3 is gone. The stigma on mental health issues needs to be done away with so that people can properly seek support.
Anonymous
Xiao Zhan is the perfect Scapegoat in the sense that 1) hes a public figure that everyone know and can easily point fingers at; 2)He is under high personal risk to speak out against the ridiculous censorship laws in China, so he likely to remain silent 3) he has zero political or financial power to revenge or punish those who attack him. My heart is breaking for Xiao Zhan.
Man Man
This is the dumbest shit ever. Poor Xiao Zhan has to deal with this. BL characters are often over-sexualized. I agree people can ignore stories or art if they don't want to see it, but when you come across what looks like actual hentai, it really is mind boggling and shocking. Sorry but these people hurting themselves have huge mental health issues before this AO3 cancellation and really need help. Normal people don't try to kill themselves over something like this.
Anonymous
Exactly this. People are angry he didn't stop them, but those fanfic are a crime in China. It shouldn't be, but it is. As devastating as the ban is, its illogical to expect someone to (especially a public figure in China) to show any support of criminal behaviour.
Anonymous
Which is exactly why outlets like Ao3 are so important to them. Mental health isn't spoken about or treated like it is in the west. It is still seen as a taboo topic. LGBT people are still widely forced to repress their true selves. AO3 was one of their few safe spaces, and now it has been taken away. You sound like you're blaming the authors of the fanfiction, but you're ignoring the repressed society they are to forced to live in.
If the actors the fanfiction were written about had taken action I would understand, but some asshole little busybody fans took it upon themselves to actually report it to the government. This is why censorship in China will never be a good thing. This is why the government having complete control is never a good thing. If this were a different country, the government would have no hand in this and instead the actors and the website would be able to handle this privately.
Anonymous
What the hell is wrong with you? Blaming people who are clearly suffering with their mental health and who don't have the means to help themselves in their repressed society. The actual REAL issue here is that their government should have had no part in this debacle. Their censorship "laws" are just total and absolute control. They ban whatever they want whenever they want, even if it makes no sense. People made a meme about Xi Jinping looking like Winnie the Pooh, so they actually banned Winnie the Pooh.
If Xiao Zhan or Wang Yibo had an issue with the story, they could have taken the action against those specific authors and the website could have handled it privately. Instead the Chinese government banned the entire website. No government should have such complete control over what their people can or cannot say.
Anonymous
Stop being delusional and defending Chinese xiao Zhan Chinese fans, there were literally evidences compiled on Weibo a xiao Zhan organized fans make instructions how to report the fabrics to government authorities and the post got thousands of repost. The mass reporting lead to shut down of a03 and make all other fandoms pissed because now they can't write or read fanfic on a03. Because of one fandom don't like the fanfic, now everyone has to suffer
Anonymous
To 7a – What the hell are you talking about? Get your facts straight. There are thousands of evidence of xz fan reports. That is why the government took action. And for your information Winnie the Pooh is banned in China? Where the hell did you hear that?
Ari
I'm sorry but I don't really get what's happening. Can someone please explain to me what the situation is and not use shorthand/abbreviations? Bc I don't even know what AO3 is lol!
Anonymous
You are also using abbreviation yourself here. 🙂
Man Man
From what I'm seeing it's usually tween girls or women fetishizing gay relationships that exists hugely in BL fandom and are the ones hurting themselves. I'm all for gay people relishing in their preferred love stories that reflect them. I just detest straight people turned on by romanticizing gay love. Same thing as men being obsessed with lesbian porn. And I'm not straight. I'm not blaming the authors, usually I don't go looking for those stories but see fanart often that is really sexualized of real people that makes me uncomfortable because they are real humans not objects for me to exploit sexually. Seems like the whole system doesn't work and there needs to be a massive change because AO3 was the band aid over a gun shot wound. Your comment about China should be taken up with them cuz… I don't own China but yeah I've always detested their inhumane ways. I know gay rights are not well respected in places like China, that's a systematic change that will have to happen so there'll be more support for LGBT people there. So people who love BL and are straight better fucking step up and be allies.
Anonymous
I understand and feel for the authors. Writing is a way for them to express what they are feeling that they cant or don't want to express freely. And being upset is very reasonable BUT putting the blame on a person who didn't do anything nor have the ability to control the people that started this is wrong. Doesnt matter if they are his fans. As anyone should know, fans action is not the actions of the idol. His studio had apologized which in my opinion is something that wasn't necessary since really, he isnt the one to be blamed. But he did it anyways. Some people may be mad at my opinion but I'm just saying how I feel. Ain't going to lie.
Nano13
Now this blow up more than just fandom craziness … it’s sad and scary at the same time how this event unfold…I’m sure there will be more crack down and reporting…
Anonymous
@ Anonymous 13: I agree with you. He can't control his fans. Most of them are normal and some are not. They have to take the responsibility for their own actions. There is no reason why people should blame him. He is a nice guy and I will always support him.
Anonymous
I saw this coming a mile away as I know that his fans on weibo are bat shit crazy due to their extreme mob mentality. They frequently feud with fans of other artists and will lead the mob to report articles, posts, and videos. As of today, due to the ao3 incident, they officially become the most hated fan group in China, it will be hard for them to be arrogant again in the future. This is definitely retribution for all the anger and hate they spread on weibo and douban. They don't deserve Xiao Zhan and they don't listen to him. He tells them he hates eggplant, and they went and hosted an eggplant contest. Sane fans are blocked from speaking out.
Anonymous
His fandom is the most nastiest fandom on weibo. They go around fighting with different fandoms. Lol they even steal things like qoutes,images,go under brands pages claiming xz as spokesperson *cough KFC*. Actors fandom of Zhu yilong Cai xukun yang yang wang yibo Zhang yixing wang zhuocheng wang junkai and actresses li qin meng meiqi meng ziyi yangzi Wu xuanyi had to deal with his mad fans. Now with Ao3 issue they are now being hated by large no of groups. His studio apology is a joke and yesterday only Hainan people's daily employee was using public account to wash Xiao zhan fans deeds but good thing the employee was fired by people's daily so his team is also playing nasty game and checking the waters. Xiao zhan himself is not so innocent he called his stalkers fans as "Friends" during one of the 诛仙 interviews.He never called out his fans like other idols obviously he fear loosing them now these fans will only take him down. His past weibo posts tell how sexist and racist he is using words like inflatable dolls for women yucks!.Hmm he keep telling as he is same xiaozhan I wonder he has changed or not. He has strong backup team behind him psst!! like Tencent n many more so his fans should stop feeling bad for him and calling him pure soul when he is far away from that hahahaha. He will surely come out of this but this thing will forgiven and forgetten by general fans of Ao3. Good luck to him and his beloved fans they can continue their madness
Anonymous
I do feel bad for XZ, but his solo fans (xfx) are a bunch of bullies, they bully everyone and are crazy! I knew that eventually they would cause big problems for their idol, smfh.
Anonymous
I think it's so unfair to Xiao Zhan. Those fans are crazy, but he can't control them. I hope everything will be ok for him.
Anonymous
To 7a – I agree with No. 7 that all governments have the right to regulate access to information for political, social and security reasons, whether the people agree with the reasons or not. If you are a Chinese person, China's laws on this are not new. Those people spreading erotic materials online are technically already breaking the law. You don't like it, then leave for a country with more freedom to do anything you like, or work to become one of the leaders in the country so that you can help change the laws one day or become a member of an action group to petition the government to change the law. But it is juvenile ranting to say that governments do not have a right. In this matter, let me say that most governments around the world have laws on the creation or propagation of erotic or porn materials, which I think A03 in China is famous for and especially when minors can be exposed to it. And on the issue of mental health, I firmly believe that the more time people spend absorbed in the cyberworld, the more mentally unhealthy and socially isolated they become. Cyber friends do not make a person feel less lonely.
Anonymous
Seriously crazy fans need to stop!!! It's always them that cause trouble. USUALLY, like, on a daily basis, actors don't run into trouble if not for their fans who are always fighting with other actors' fans or some other stuff like that :((( People, you can love your idol all you want but don't go hating on other actors!
Anonymous
Probably let fame went to his head.
Or his team know that his fame is transient so the response they gave was so lackluster.
Honestly he isnt the first male celeb to explode in popularity, but the way his fans act really makes people think he is the first to do so.
I hope he gets replaced by a new fresh meat soon, with a less toxic and troublesome fandom (latest news is that apparently his fandom forced someone to the point of suicide).