By Cai Siyun, Vision Times
The sudden death of 37-year-old Chinese actor Yu Menglong, who “fell” from a building earlier this month, continues to spark widespread suspicion and anger across Chinese social media. Despite heated debate, China’s state media has remained largely silent. Yu’s mentor, well-known entertainment commentator Song Zude, blasted the silence as “insanity.” His post was scrubbed within five minutes.
Adding to the public ire, netizens recently discovered that Netflix had quietly removed Yu’s name from the cast list of “Eternal Love,” the fantasy drama that catapulted him into mega-stardom.
MORE ON THIS: Audio Reveals Yu Menglong’s Abdomen Was Cut Open to Retrieve a USB Drive
Suspicion surrounding Yu’s death
On Sept. 11, Yu mysteriously fell to his death at the Sunshine Upper East residential complex in Beijing, sending shockwaves throughout the entertainment industry. Police quickly ruled out foul play, attributing it to an accidental fall after a night of drinking. But skepticism remains strong, with fans demanding a thorough investigation into the suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.
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In the days following, online posts and videos alleged that Yu had been lured to a “drinking party” by insiders, where he was assaulted and ultimately killed. As speculation spread, authorities intensified censorship and announced the detention of three individuals for “fabricating and spreading rumors.”
On Sept. 20, X (formerly Twitter) account “News Investigation,” which has closely tracked developments in Yu’s death, released several video and audio submissions from netizens. These included the alleged audio of Yu’s stomach being cut open to remove a USB drive, as well as video footage allegedly recorded by a neighbor that appears to show the assailant in action.
Mentor blasts silence
On Sept. 21, Yu’s longtime mentor Song Zude took to Weibo (a popular blogging site in China) with two fiery posts condemning official media outlets for refusing to cover Yu’s case. He called the silence both “insane” and “intolerable.”
Song wrote: “Foreign media are reporting on this one after another, yet domestic media remain collectively silent — it’s a national disgrace. A son has died, yet his mother is silenced. Worse, imposters posing as his mother write little fake essays to cover up the truth, attempting to gag netizens! Such insanity defies heaven’s law. Twice the so-called studio issued statements — both scripted by Hongmao. That scumbag Hongmao will end up behind bars! He has no real red-background connections, only self-promotion and lies. Heaven’s justice cannot be escaped. This pervert must go to prison!”
But the post was scrubbed within minutes and Song’s account was suspended. He later reposted a toned-down version, still denouncing the gag order and calling the fake statements “legally invalid.” That too was swiftly erased.
Earlier, on Sept. 18, Song had openly questioned the official account of Yu’s death, urging Yu’s mother to hire lawyers, request an autopsy, and block any cremation.
On Sept. 17, he published a heartfelt tribute to his late protégé: “You deserve everything, because you are unique! As pure as snow, as kind as water. Because you were the best and the kindest! Though dark clouds temporarily obscure the sun’s light, they are only temporary. The clouds will eventually scatter and vanish.”
Netflix quietly removes Yu from ‘Eternal Love’
Nearly two weeks after Yu’s death, public debate continues to surge, with related posts reportedly exceeding 20 billion views. Yet authorities have refused to open a formal investigation, choosing instead to suppress online discussion.
On Sept. 22, netizens noticed Yu’s name had disappeared from the cast list of popular TV show “Eternal Love” on Netflix. The 2017 drama was the breakout project that brought Yu nationwide recognition, making the removal appear to fans as an attempt to erase his presence.
On Threads, some netizens reacted angrily:
- “So quick to remove his name?”
- “Do they want to pretend he never appeared?”
- “This is outrageous — it’s basically erasing the evidence!”
Others suggested Netflix may have acted as a precaution to avoid controversy and further rumors surrounding Yu’s death. At present, only Netflix has removed Yu’s name — it still appears on Wikipedia and Google.
Rise to stardom
Yu Menglong was born on June 15, 1988, in Ürümqi, Xinjiang. His career began with appearances on talent shows such as Dragon TV’s “My Show” in 2007 and Hunan TV’s “Super Boy” in 2010 and 2013, where he achieved high rankings and eventually signed with Tianyu Media.
His breakout roles came with the web-drama “Go Princess Go” and later “Eternal Love,” where his portrayal of Bai Zhen cemented his status as a rising star and household name in Asia. Known for his fresh, sunny image, Yu built a massive fan base.
By 2017, he was considered one of the most popular actors of his generation. His demise on Sept. 11 sent shockwaves throughout the entertainment world and beyond as fans continue to mourn the untimely death of this talented and beloved star.
Voices of protest
Taiwanese influencer “Potter King,” who has millions of followers, highlighted the suspicious handling of the case on Chinese platforms. He noted how quickly the story vanished from trending searches, suggesting deliberate suppression.
He lamented: “In the eyes of the CCP leadership, ordinary people are nothing more than chives waiting to be harvested.”
Potter King also called on netizens not to remain silent: “If everyone continues to kneel (cave), Yu Menglong will not be the last.”
