A famous actor in China has told obsessed fans to stop booking plane tickets in his name and spreading rumours about trips he has no intention of taking.
Film star Wang Yibo’s agent, Beijing Yuehua Entertainment, said on Weibo on February 3 that someone had booked an unwanted flight for the actor, which infringed his rights and affected his work, the Qianjiang Evening News reported.
“This vicious deed of wasting transporting resources during the current Spring Festival traffic peak period goes against public morals and breaks the law as well. We will investigate and hold the culprit accountable,” the company said in a statement.
Wang is a 26-year-old superstar actor and singer in mainland China, admired for his good looks. He played a leading role in the 2023 thriller spy film Hidden Blade that also starred Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai and established mainland actress Zhou Xun.
The intention of the person, or people, behind the unwanted flight bookings is unknown, but they are believed to be foolish fans playing pranks.
Wang is not the first celebrity in China for whom fans bought air tickets or even cancelled flights on their behalf without their knowledge.
Some fans also check online to see which plane seat their idol has selected, so they can book the one next to them.
In 2021, actor Gong Jun and actress Wang Feifei repeatedly asked their fans to cease reserving plane seats for them.
Last year, Chen Lijun, a popular Yue Opera actress, complained on Weibo that some fans went to her home uninvited and took videos of her parents.
In 2019, it was reported that Wang Yibo’s phone number was available online. He said he had received numerous calls from crazed fans, and released some of the recorded conversations on Weibo.
A celebrity’s personal details can be bought online for as little as 10 yuan (US$1.4), including their identity card, mobile phone number, social security number and home address, the Qianjiang Evening News report said.
It is illegal to sell anybody’s personal information in China, and the crime is punishable by up to three years in jail.
Authorities have been clamping down on the culture of fandom, after a spate of extreme activities made headlines.
“It’s horrible. I think Wang Yibo’s company should report it to the police immediately,” one online observer wrote on Weibo.
“It’s not easy for a star to maintain privacy in this world,” said another.
