Chinese actress and TV host Zhu Dan has landed herself in hot water once more, this time over comments the 43-year-old made on variety shows that viewers say reek of gender bias. From giving chicken legs to male guests to expecting her young daughter to care for her little brother, Zhu Dan’s “traditional” mindset has gotten her trending.
The Chicken Leg Incident
On the reality show 50km Taohuawu (Wonderland), actress Ning Jing was cooking chicken soup for her cast mates when Zhu Dan said that “the didi (younger brothers) Zhou Yiran and Dong Sicheng can have the chicken legs while Ouyang Didi and Ning Jing can have the wings.” It didn’t seem to sit right with Ning Jing, who said the legs are usually saved for someone you favor. Ning Jing then asked if Zhu Dan prefers boys, to which she replied, “a little,” and added her rationale: “the boys are still growing.”
But netizens weren’t having it. Even 24-year-old Zhou Yiran said he’s past the age where he could grow. Although Zhu Dan later told Ouyang Didi, their youngest female cast member, to take the chicken leg, it seems the damage was done, as netizens started digging up more comments made by Zhu Dan.
Past Comments Draw Controversy
On another show, Zhu Dan casually revealed that she had her 6-year-old daughter enrolled in the same class as her 3-year-old son by letting him start early. With this setup, the big sister also cares for her brother at school. “She brings him to class, feeds him, even teaches him math,” Zhu said proudly. “It’s like a mom holding her son.” Actor Wang Yanlin, who also has a daughter, said he couldn’t accept placing that kind of burden on a child.
The backlash was swift. Commenters accused Zhu Dan of reinforcing outdated gender roles: giving the best to the boys while asking the girl to be the responsible one. Some argued her comments might have been taken out of context or exaggerated by editing. Meanwhile, this is not the first time Zhu Dan has faced controversy. In the past, she frequently drew flak for getting celebrity names wrong.
Zhu Dan married actor Zhou Yiwei in 2017. They have a daughter and a son together.
Lisa
Sometimes women are their own worst enemies. I never understood why, as a woman yourself, you’d want to reinforce and perpetuate these stupid gender biases. It’s one thing if you enjoy and choose to do it for yourself, but you shouldn’t force others like your poor daughter to. Kudos to Wang Yanlin for recognizing it’s a burden parentify your children, especially at such a young age.
Avarachika
Agree! And the chicken leg part is ridiculous. Everyone should get to choose what they want to eat and/or whether to give up a certain piece to another person, and not her dictating what each one should get.
Anon
the extra ridiculous part is that it’s not even like the boys asked for it. she just claimed it for them unsolicited. Ouyang Didi is only 20 years old compared to Zhou Yiran, who is 24, and Winwin is 27. She is the youngest one! the boys are past “growing” years.