Chinese Actor Zhang Linghe's Comments About Southeast Asia Anger SEA Community
Chinese actor Zhang Linghe was accused of displaying racist attitudes towards Southeast Asians after a short clip from the television programme “Hello Saturday (Hi6)” circulated widely on social media platforms. The incident originated from a drawing challenge segment in the studio.
His co-contestant, actress Tian Xiwei, produced a caricature sketch of Zhang Linghe as part of the game. When the image was displayed on screen, Zhang Linghe’s reaction became the focus of attention. Whilst laughing, the actor made comments that many considered racist.
“Who does this look like? I feel like my face resembles someone born in Southeast Asia,” Zhang Linghe said, according to reports from Koreaboo on Wednesday, 11 March 2026.
Initially, this moment passed without major attention within China. However, the short recording quickly crossed borders and landed on international platforms such as X and Instagram. For the Southeast Asian community, the comments were interpreted as a direct reference to negative stereotypes regarding darker skin tones or certain facial features often deemed “unattractive” by conventional East Asian beauty standards.
Criticism emerged swiftly. An X user with the account @idleloveralways expressed disappointment sharply. “There is no reason for racism. Zhang Linghe and his sick fans must be held accountable for this. Racism is racism. There is no excuse like ‘oh it’s just a misunderstanding, he didn’t mean it that way’! He and his fans are rubbish,” the account wrote.
Similar sentiments came from the account @Lou_Anne0404. “That is real racism. Although I think Linghe didn’t intend it? These fans are instead using this issue to mock others, which makes the problem messier. This will be a lesson for him, and for other stars or variety shows,” they said.
The anger from Southeast Asian fans was not without reason. Statistically, the Southeast Asian market contributes a substantial percentage to the global popularity of Chinese dramas. For example, reports show that the Chinese drama “The Best Thing” starring Zhang Linghe did not top the charts in mainland China, but the drama dominated rankings across various Southeast Asian countries.