When Fame Changes Friendships: Li Xian’s WeChat Controversy Sparks Debate on Celebrity Privacy

The entertainment world was set abuzz this week when actor Li Xian, star of the hit drama Go Go Squid!, found himself at the center of a heated discussion about fame, friendship, and privacy in the digital age. A woman claiming to have maintained contact with Li since their university days revealed that she discovered she’d been removed from the actor’s WeChat friends list after his rise to stardom—a disclosure that has ignited complex conversations about celebrity social dynamics.

The Unfollow Heard ‘Round the Internet

The anonymous alumna shared that while she and Li previously exchanged holiday greetings, she was surprised to find herself cut off post-fame. “It stung, but I get it,” she admitted, encapsulating the bittersweet reality many face when childhood friends achieve success. This seemingly personal anecdote struck a cultural nerve, trending for 12+ hours on Weibo as netizens debated whether Li’s actions represented reasonable boundary-setting or celebrity elitism.

Li’s team has since clarified that the mass unfollowing wasn’t personal—it was survival. After Go Go Squid! catapulted him to A-list status in 2019, the actor faced overwhelming digital intrusion. “I’d wake up to hundreds of random friend requests and messages,” Li explained in a past interview. “There were stalkers showing up at my door using info from leaked chats.” His solution? A complete social media reset to reclaim mental space.

The Celebrity Friendship Paradox

Public reaction has split dramatically. Some defend Li’s right to curate his circle (“Would you keep 5,000 ‘friends’?”), while others critique what they see as disposable relationships in showbiz. The discourse intensified when photos surfaced of Li casually shopping in Japan with Olympic gold medalist Fan Zhendong—proof that some bonds survive fame’s pressures.

Industry insiders note this highlights entertainment’s unique social landscape. Co-stars may share intimate on-set moments yet drift apart after wrap, while casual acquaintances can become lifelines in an industry where trust is scarce. Li’s earlier revelation about forcing himself to network at industry dinners to shed his “aloof” image underscores the performative aspects of celebrity socialization.

Our Complicated Hunger for Authenticity

Beneath the surface, this controversy reveals our contradictory expectations of stars. We crave their “realness” yet punish them for setting boundaries. As Li once stated: “My job is to act—not to perform my personal life.” The incident serves as a mirror reflecting modern fandom’s uneasy relationship with celebrity privacy.

While the ethics of unfriending remain debatable, one truth emerges: In an era where every follower count is scrutinized, perhaps we all—fans and celebrities alike—deserve grace to outgrow connections without public trial. After all, shouldn’t friendship, at any level of fame, be about quality rather than quantity?

What do you think—should celebrities maintain old ties at all costs, or is a social media purge fair game for mental health? Sound off in the comments.