A recording of a conversation between Zhang Haowei (the Crown Prince in Joy of Life) and a girl surfaced online. Paparazzi previously hinted they had gossip of an actor soliciting prostitutes and in the leaked recording they released, Zhang Haowei discussed actor Dai Xiangyu’s alleged involvement. He went, “Dai Xiangyu said the investigation on Li Yifeng (who was arrested in China on suspicion of soliticing prostitutes) is now after him and he might get exposed.” As the rumors broke, Sina Entertainment reached out to Dai Xiangyu’s agent who shut it down and said that fame leads to gossip.
Who is Dai Xiangyu? His Reaction
Dai Xiangyu, a Chinese actor and model formerly based in Singapore under Mediacorp, married actress Chen Zihan in 2016 and has shifted focus to his career in China. He most recently appeared in Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty 2, where he definitely drew attention playing a notorious scumbag yet again. Yet in real life, he is known as a loving husband to his actress wife.
After his name was brought up, his reaction was swift as he shut down the rumors and also issued a lawyer’s letter calling out the other party for saying things about him that were recorded and disseminated online. He also said he doesn’t know the other party at all. Similarly, Dai Xiangyu Studio issued a statement saying that the rumors circulating on the Internet about Dai Xiangyu “soliciting prostitutes” are untrue, and they reserve the right to pursue legal action.
Zhang Haowei in Hot Water
Zhang Haowei took to social media to admit that the alleged recording was from years ago and insists there was no truth to it. He wrote, “Brother Dai Xiangyu and I have never met before. This chat took place many years ago when gossiping with friends while warming up at the basketball court. I don’t know when or why the recording was made. The audio has been processed and is ridiculously biased. The part about Dai Xiangyu is completely untrue, so this matter is completely false. I apologize to Brother Dai Xiangyu for my irresponsible remarks and actions, and I also apologize to everyone for occupying public resources.”
Nonetheless, Zhang Haowei found himself in hot water. In the recording where the conversation shifted to the topic of men soliciting prostitutes, Zhang Haowei can be heard saying he had never met a man who would say, “I can’t solicit a prostitute.” Some concluded he has a very open attitude towards prostitution. This discussion somehow shifted to Zhang Yixing, as Zhang Haowei randomly asked the girl he was talking to if she liked the singer-actor, to which she said no.
With the controversy, Joy of Life 3 where Zhang Haowei is a main cast member, trended again. Given that an actor can get cancelled in China over different things, some wondered if it would affect his role in the show.
