Promo Photos Accused of Being “Copy-Pasted” Spark Controversy — Song Weilong Takes Legal Action Against Zhang Linghe’s Fans

(Beijing, 26th) Song Weilong and Zhang Linghe have become the center of a heated fan war following controversy over strikingly similar promotional visuals, with the dispute escalating into legal action.

Both actors are ambassadors for Gucci. A recently released campaign featuring the two sparked debate as netizens pointed out near-identical styling and composition, jokingly calling it a “copy-paste” scenario. The discussion quickly spiraled into fan conflicts on both sides.

On April 25, Song Weilong’s studio issued a legal statement announcing lawsuits against two Weibo users accused of posting defamatory and insulting remarks. The statement emphasized that certain comments targeted not only the artist but also his family, constituting serious violations of personal rights.

Reports indicate that some of Zhang Linghe’s fans allegedly flooded Song’s social media with malicious comments, including personal attacks using sensitive terms. In response, Song’s fanbase was also rumored to have organized reports against Zhang’s endorsement deals, further intensifying the conflict.

Song’s studio clarified that the legal action is not directed at any specific artist or fan group, but rather at individuals responsible for extreme online abuse. It has demanded the immediate removal of offending content and stated that evidence has been secured, with both civil and criminal liabilities being pursued.

Industry observers suggest that the similar branding approach may have inadvertently positioned the two actors in competition, fueling tensions within their respective fan communities.