Zhou Yutong’s Controversial Post

The Olympic fever has taken over China, with celebrities cheering on their favorite athletes in Paris. Among these stars, the cast of the reality TV series ‘Divas Hit the Road’ (花儿与少年) were fortunate to get seats at the men’s gymnastics all-around finals. Chinese actress Zhou Yutong, who is part of the cast, expressed her excitement by posting on social media, declaring, ‘Always proud of Team China!’

Netizens React

However, Zhou Yutong’s cheerful post did not receive the warm appreciation she might have anticipated. In the now-deleted post, she shared several photos from the event, alongside an image of gymnast Zhang Boheng. Zhang walked away with a silver medal after narrowly missing the gold, evidently dismayed. Netizens were quick to criticize Zhou, suggesting that her smiling photos contrasted insensitively with Zhang’s clearly disappointed expression.

Public Sentiment

Angry netizens accused Zhou of insensitivity, pointing out that posting carefree selfies against the backdrop of Zhang Boheng’s evident frustration was ‘ironic’ and inconsiderate. Some argued that her intent was merely to showcase her pride in Team China, regardless of the outcome. Despite her seemingly positive intentions, public opinion overwhelmingly leaned towards disapproval, claiming that her actions were in poor taste given the context.

Reflection and Response

In light of the backlash, Zhou Yutong promptly took down her post. There is ongoing debate on whether the criticism she received was warranted or exaggerated. While some defend her actions as misunderstood, others maintain that public figures must be more cautious and considerate about the timing and impact of their social media posts.