Amid heated criticism of actor Cheng Yi over his new costume drama The Journey of Legend, Star Union Skykee (星汇天姬) CEO Liang Ting who used to manage the actor published a lengthy post on social media in his defense. Liang Ting rejected the idea that the star should shoulder blame for the drama’s shortcomings. Despite a big budget and rising ratings, The Journey of Legend has been criticized for its quality such that even a scene of Cheng Yi still holding a script made the final cut.
“The Journey of Legend might not be great, but why scold Cheng Yi?” Liang Ting asked. She argued that despite being the face of the series, the actor has no authority over costumes, editing, or choices made by the creative team. “Do you really think this hardworking hachimi (a term of endearment) has the power to demand changes?” she wrote.
Cheng Yi has also drawn flak for the way he delivers his lines. The actor had said that his character in The Journey of Legend comes from modern day which is why the way he speak would be different, but some aren’t buying it. Addressing complaints about Cheng Yi’s delivery, Liang Ting pointed out that his earlier works—including projects they shot and the reality show Grade One—never faced such criticism. Even if a Hunan accent can blur certain consonants, she said, it hardly justifies the current flood of online attacks. Instead, she blamed a rushed production schedule that left “no time to polish dialogue or re-record lines.”
Liang Ting painted a vivid picture of Cheng Yi’s grueling workload: working in Hengdian for roughly 300 days a year, enduring 40-degree heat under heavy wigs and costumes, or suspended from wires until he suffered a herniated disc. Without extra time for retakes or post-production dubbing, she argued, even the most dedicated actor would struggle.
She also criticized the creative team and post-production pipeline: with directors, cinematographers, assistant directors, and script supervisors all watching the monitors, how could so many script errors slip through? “Are all those eyes blind?” she asked, noting that multiple post-production stages failed to catch mistakes—yet Cheng Yi alone is blamed.
Beyond defending the actor, Liang Ting lamented the industry slump and urged the media to share positive stories instead of feeding on the negatives.
Source: 1
Arduinna
Buhuhu! Which actor on set in Hengdian over the summer doesn’t sweat under his wig? Some are doing wire work wearing heavy armour to the point of suffering heatstroke, yet none of them use this as an excuse for sloppy work!
It is true that many of the blunders of this drama are out of Cheng Yi’s control, however, being able to say his lines without clutching the script, doing wire work that looks halfway like an actual martial artist (instead of ballet with an arched back) are very much within his responsibilities.
I find it rather refreshing that the audience is finally seeing him for what he really is, an over-rated actor with effeminate looks and a dimunitive figure. Really not the stuff that martial arts hero’s are made of.
Dee
People just love complaining the quality sucks story probably socks too but one person can’t be blame … why is it so low budget looking ?
XZF
@Dee
The 1st paragraph in the article said “… Despite the big budget. and…”
Dee
I know it’s high budget but I am saying it looks very low budget terrible quality
HL
The production company boast of high budget…but in just ep1…I can see that cannot be possible. It is definitely not high budget or some people are pocketing more than they should(Not the acting team)?
Dee
Yes thank you ! I watched episode one after this article ! I had no time to notice acting the quality was horrible . It feels like something from the 1900’s
Applefish
I can absolutely blame CY because there’s bad script n there’s bad acting! His acting has no energy, his character isn’t a young 20something, but rather a 40+. There is no energy in his acting, in his voice, nor in his eyes. Comparing to Esther Yu last year in LGIEF, her energy is much much higher, actually carrying the drama, even though her character has zero development, n to the point of moot! I wasn’t that wrapped about that drama, but it was watchable! This one, however, was unwatchable! I just got to ep4, n this is watching while I’m doing dishwashing, which mean I tend to not be too picky, yet it feels like long and slow! Comparing to BAYM, which has much longer episode, n it didnt even feel long!
HL
I drop at eps 3…I did try but unbearable..
foulthings
Lmaooo imagine using Esther Yu as a “good” comparison. She is one of the worst actors of the 95 line. She is nowhere near Cheng Yi’s level of acting and he’s not even that good. What a joke.
Ash
Hahaha. This statement, I can definitely relate to.
Applefish
Your comment just show your lack of understanding English 🙄 if you did not read the underlying subtexts of me not liking Esther that much, but at least I gave her for the energy she gave the drama. No one said her acting was good 🙄🤦♀️ comprehension ppl! But why do I expect craY ChengYi Stan to have any commonsense or English comprehension 🤷♀️🤦♀️
Joni
I have not started on this drama. Now I think I don’t have to start.
Poor Cheng Yi. I like the guy but his acting is pretty much similar in all his costume dramas. Maybe because the characters he played are similar. And he really can’t enunciate properly.
He should step away from this wuxia/xianxia genre now or at least be more selective about the quality of the script and production team he works with. He should try to expand his repertoire . His few more contemporary dramas were not too impressive either.
Salimatu
Actually, I love chemgy and I live the drama. currently at ep 26 and I am enjoying. I can’t wait for tomorrow’s episode.
even b4 the drama was released, one of the female lead was attacked for no reason.
you guys are just looking f9r for unnecessary reasons to destroy chengyi. I can watch him in anything but I prefer him in wuxia/xianxia. and he is that good.
if I had followed these evil comments, I would have dropped the drama even b4 I started. but yh the beginning was confusing, but I just trusted chengyi and went for it and I love it
Joni
Aw come on, no need to be so personal. As an actor, he does have a number of weak points, same as so have many of the other idol actors in his generation, just more or less. He should have all those wuxia/xianxia characters down to a pat since he has done so many of them and all about similar – the suffering, misunderstood, lonely, tortured soul fighting against world injustice. He’s really good at fight choreographies & I like to watch him fight. But I am not so obsessed with him that I would spend my time on a poor production just because he is there. (I love the Lotus Casebook)
But the comments on poor editing, poor QC, poor script are valid but not CY’s fault (that’s what I mean about picking better scripts and production teams and not work himself to the bone). Why are these comments evil, when the poor quality is there for all to see?
Coralie
hah comparing energy levels, it’s true – Esther has high energy since her debut. she tries to tone it down, but it’s just her. I enjoy that spark of life she brings to her characters – makes them feel 3-dimensional.
compare her to Bailu, who IMO, is serviceable but hardly high energy acting. and doesn’t really have “character.” she tries, but she doesn’t have that sparkle. but she’s been taking on a lot of heavier projects, so I guess it comes with the territory.
this is why I was so excited to see Esther in a darker role next or more ennui compared to her usual cadre of lovable characters. and then blah, those stupid scandals. if only her dad can finance her another series lol, I’m down to watch.
what does this have to do with chengyi? mm not much. I’ve seen other chengyi projects and he’s been solid with them. not great, but entertaining. my theory now on actors and actresses have changed. very few actos are true chameleon – they are either damn good in a single character/archetype or they’re just ok to plain bad if the role doesn’t suit them or the script is poor. if you don’t think an artist is good because of x, maybe them being in y would be a lot better. all it takes for recognition is one good, meaty role. the only ones recently who fit into my definition of great would probably be Tian Jianci and Dai Luwa. the rest are servicable…