By Siyun Cai, Janet Huang, Vision Times
The Yu Menglong case continues to reverberate internationally, as Chinese netizens both at home and abroad demand justice for the late actor who mysteriously fell to his death from a balcony in Beijing on Sept. 11. Previously covered as a front-page story by the BBC, the case has now drawn attention from the U.S. authoritative magazine Foreign Policy, signaling its growing global significance.
Three weeks after Yu Menglong’s fall, public interest remains high. Following the incident, Chinese authorities quickly ruled the case as an accidental fall due to alcohol, dismissing any criminal suspicion while aggressively suppressing discussion. Many, however, remain skeptical about the circumstances of his death. Online campaigns have sought to uncover the truth and amplify Yu’s story internationally, with the number of signatures on global petitions surpassing 170,000.
The BBC previously highlighted several reasons why citizens doubted the official account. Other media outlets, including The Australian, Singapore’s Straits Times, and multiple Taiwanese platforms, have also reported on the case.
Now, Foreign Policy, a respected U.S. publication covering global politics, security, and diplomacy, has weighed in, underscoring the case’s broad impact.
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On Oct. 1, Foreign Policy published an article titled “Chinese Public Clings to Celebrity Cover-up, Actor Yu Menglong’s Death Sparks Censorship and Rumors.” The report emphasized that Yu Menglong’s mysterious death caused a major stir online despite stringent information controls.
The report noted that the way Chinese authorities handled the case — and the public reaction — illustrates the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) tight grip on media and public opinion. Overzealous censorship often hides news over minor issues, but the act of censorship itself sometimes becomes a story, fueling conspiracy theories about why information is blocked.
Independent US voices amplify Yu Menglong’s case
U.S.-based independent media outlet “David’s View” on YouTube highlighted that this is the first time mainstream American media have reported on the Yu Menglong case. The program described Foreign Policy as a serious and authoritative magazine with a global readership of six million, primarily among political, academic, and business elites, and shared its post on X (formerly Twitter).
According to “David’s View,” the magazine pointed out that Chinese netizens do not trust the official account of Yu’s death and are determined to uncover the truth. The report also underscored how the case exposes the impunity enjoyed by powerful figures under the Chinese system. If a well-known actor like Yu Menglong can be erased so easily, ordinary citizens may feel similarly powerless. The situation highlights a profound sense of legal insecurity, reminiscent of the helplessness felt during the early days of the pandemic.
Online supporters expressed gratitude: “Thank you, Mr. David, for speaking out for Yu Menglong! Thanks to every righteous person advocating for him! We hope the perpetrators face justice, that Yu Menglong rests in peace, and that his mother remains safe and well.”
“Thank you for continuously speaking out for Yu Menglong! Sir, your righteousness is admirable! Many of Yu’s videos and photos in mainland China can no longer be posted or have already been deleted, and even our comments are being removed. I sincerely ask friends overseas to help Yu! I pray from afar that good people will live happy and safe lives.”
“Thank you, David. We will persist—we cannot let such a good young man die under unclear circumstances, or else there will be thousands more like him in the future.”
“The petition has surpassed 170,000 signatures — let’s keep going!”
“Wow, this is amazing, so exciting!”
“Anyone who has seen the videos of him crying and screaming will be shocked, angry, and heartbroken. Many ordinary people are speaking up for him, hoping that the kind-hearted can receive justice.”
Tragic fall ignites calls for justice and scrutiny of the CCP
On Sept. 11, Yu Menglong tragically fell to his death at the Sunshine Shangdong residential complex in Beijing. Police maintained that it was an accidental fall while intoxicated, but leaked insider information has continually emerged, strongly suggesting he died as a result of abuse. Fans and the public have persistently advocated for justice on his behalf.
Nearly three weeks after his passing, Yu Menglong’s official Weibo account continues to see a surge in followers, gaining millions in recent days. On Sept. 11, his follower count stood at just over 26 million; by Oct. 2, it had climbed to 27.714 million. Because the account is set to become “visible for six months,” all content will be cleared after that period, prompting fans to urgently back up all currently accessible posts.
Yu Menglong’s case has found no justice within China, forcing reliance on foreign media to speak on his behalf. This harsh reality has opened the eyes of many mainland citizens to the cruelty of the CCP system, prompting them to renounce their membership in the Party, Youth League, and Young Pioneers. To date, 450 million people have formally registered their decision to quit the CCP on overseas anti-CCP platforms.
