In recent days, Chinese actor Cheng Yi has become the focus of online discussion after an “age controversy” related to the star surfaced and quickly climbed trending charts. The discussion began when a court document circulating online — reportedly a ruling on a withdrawn lawsuit — listed the birth date of Cheng Yi, whose real name is Fu Shiqi, as April 13, 1989. The date differs from the one long shown in public records and online encyclopedic entries, which identify his birth date as May 17, 1990.
The discrepancy soon sparked debate among internet users about whether the actor might have altered his age. Because Cheng Yi has often been categorized as part of the generation of “post-90s actors,” the newly circulated information led some observers to speculate that the difference could be related to the entertainment industry’s well-known practice of adjusting artists’ ages for career positioning.
As the discussion gained traction, Cheng Yi’s former manager Liang Ting addressed the matter publicly. She explained that the actor was in fact born in 1990, but that when he was young, his family hoped he could begin school earlier than usual. During the household registration process, his age was therefore reported as one year older, resulting in official records listing the year 1989. According to her explanation, this administrative choice later created the apparent inconsistency between different sources.
Following Liang Ting’s response, the intensity of online discussion surrounding the issue gradually began to decline. Up to now, Cheng Yi himself and his current team have not released a formal statement regarding the matter. For the moment, the topic surrounding Cheng Yi remains largely confined to online public opinion and speculation rather than any confirmed dispute.
