Yan Xuejing's Comments Create a Stir, Targeting Three Prominent Figures

Mainland China's national first-class actor Yan Xuejing live-streamed her, crying poor on December 29 of last year. (Internet image)

[People News] High-ranking officials in Zhongnanhai are putting on a performance for the public, while the entertainment industry that sings their praises has recently faced a scandal. Mainland actress Yan Xuejing, who hails from a celebrity family, has three children who have all gained admission to the Central Academy of Drama's performance department, which has a national acceptance rate of less than 0.5%. When this star mother boasted during a live stream that her son was admitted with low scores thanks to 'special policies,' her remark unexpectedly exposed the corruption within China's top drama institution.

Yan Xuejing's mention of the 'Xinjiang class' causes a stir

The story begins with a live stream by 'Mountain Apricot' Yan Xuejing. As a frequent guest on the Spring Festival Gala, Yan Xuejing expressed her grievances in the live stream, stating that her son Lin Aofei and his partner earn only a few hundred thousand yuan a year, which is hardly enough to get by, and that without at least one or two million at home, they can't 'make ends meet.' This statement prompted a strong reaction from netizens.

Netizens quickly investigated: this family enjoys lobster and sea cucumber for breakfast, the son's casual T-shirt costs seven thousand yuan, they drive a million-yuan Mercedes, and they even own property in Sanya. Is this what they call 'tight living'? What does an ordinary person's life look like? Amid the mockery, some diligent netizens began to scrutinise her past statements, which led to the revelation of a significant scandal.

Netizens have unearthed an early live-stream video of Yan Xuejing, in which she proudly claimed that her son, who had insufficient scores at the time, was able to enter the Central Academy of Drama through the 'Xinjiang Class'. To clarify, the 'Xinjiang Class' is a special pathway established by the mainland to support artistic talents from ethnic minorities in Xinjiang. However, Yan Xuejing's family is a genuine Han Chinese family from Jilin and holds a Beijing household registration. How did a Han Chinese second-generation star with a Beijing household registration manage to secure a spot in the 'Xinjiang Class'? Whose dreams from the border regions did he overshadow? The outrage among netizens surged dramatically.

In response to the mounting public outcry, the Central Academy of Drama released a statement asserting that there was no 'Xinjiang Class' in 2012 and that Lin Aofei was admitted through normal procedures. However, this statement failed to calm the public's anger.

Netizens argued that, given the significant controversy, the Central Academy of Drama should transparently disclose the admission score threshold from that year, Lin Aofei's professional course grades, and even the list of candidates admitted in the same batch, while also introducing third-party oversight to truly clear the names of those involved. Yet, the Central Academy of Drama has not yet provided this evidence list.

What is even more thought-provoking is that netizens discovered that not only did Yan Xuejing's son Lin Aofei gain admission to the Central Academy of Drama, but her stepdaughter Lin Aoxue and nephew Yan Haobo also graduated from the acting department there. Netizens questioned how the Central Academy of Drama, Beijing Film Academy, and Shanghai Theatre Academy—considered the 'Mount Everest' for art examination candidates—could allow the Yan family to seemingly have a family tradition of success, with each exam resulting in acceptance. Particularly for Lin Aofei, whose appearance and acting skills do not appear to be exceptional in the entertainment industry. Behind this remarkable probability, is it a case of extraordinary talent or the covert manipulation of power?

While the earlier doubts may have been mere speculation, the real-name report by 2012 candidate Li Zhanxu directly undermines Yan Xuejing's claims. Li Zhanxu recalls that in the examination room that year, out of 10 candidates, 4 performed identically. Most shockingly, he later found a group photo of students from the Central Academy of Drama in which Lin Aofei wore a name tag that boldly displayed 'Li Zhanxu'! Yet, he himself failed the exam that year. The Central Academy of Drama responded by stating it was 'possibly a misused photo.'

But can a person's name, student status, and life trajectory truly be dismissed with a simple 'misuse'? This situation inevitably evokes real-life cases of 'identity theft.' If the allegations are accurate, then Lin Aofei not only gained admission with low scores but also appropriated someone else's entire life.

The three top officials of the Central Academy of Drama have voluntarily confessed.

Just as the case regarding Lin Aofei's student status reached an impasse, the real 'thunder' struck.

On December 19, 2025, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission, stationed at the Ministry of Education, along with the Henan Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision, announced that Hao Rong, the deputy secretary of the Party Committee and president of the Central Academy of Drama, was suspected of serious disciplinary violations and was voluntarily investigated. His downfall, as the head of the institution, undoubtedly dropped a significant bombshell, setting an uneasy tone for this unfolding drama.

If Yan Xuejing's remarks were a spark, then what followed was the explosion of the gunpowder barrel she ignited.

On February 12, Chen Gang, the former head of the Performing Arts Department, voluntarily surrendered to authorities. The following day, February 13, the current head, Wang Xin, also came forward. Chen Gang was the head of the department when Lin Aofei enrolled in 2012, wielding significant influence over admissions. Wang Xin served as Lin Aofei's mentor during her studies. This creates a complete power structure from admissions to teaching. When individuals from this structure line up to enter the disciplinary committee, can we still consider this a coincidence? This situation clearly echoes Yan Xuejing's boast about the 'Xinjiang Class,' which has become a catalyst that, once pulled, exposes a long-concealed network of interests.

Currently, all four recent heads of the Performing Arts Department at the Central Academy of Drama have faced downfall, with three of them voluntarily surrendering, a situation described by the media as 'three star mentors collectively confessing.' There are growing public suspicions that their 'excessive power' has led to 'systemic corruption.' Wang Xin has also appeared in several prominent film and television productions, with students including top stars such as Yi Yangqianxi, Hu Xianxu, and Li Landi.

The career trajectories of these three individuals are strikingly similar: they graduated from the Central Academy of Drama, remained to teach, ascended to department heads, and ultimately even reached the position of dean. They have maintained long-term control over admissions and personnel within the Performing Arts Department, resulting in a high concentration of power. Public sentiment generally suggests that the closely timed voluntary surrenders indicate long-standing issues of admission irregularities within the Central Academy of Drama.

These mentors wield considerable power: they serve as examiners who decide whether you gain entry; they act as mentors who shape your future career path; and they are resource allocators who can recommend you to prominent directors. There are even rumours circulating online that a single admission spot at the Central Academy of Drama could be worth as much as 4 million RMB. While this is merely a rumour, it is enough to lead the public to speculate about the depths of the situation.

Yan Xuejing has suffered a loss of tens of millions overnight.

So, how is Yan Xuejing, the focal point of this controversy, faring now? Describing her situation as 'tragic' would not be an exaggeration. She previously bemoaned her financial woes during a live stream, yet netizens discovered that she resides in a villa, enjoys 11 dishes for breakfast, and earns millions from endorsements each year. In response to the scepticism from netizens, she even lashed out, calling them 'sour cucumbers' and defiantly stating, 'Old farmers should just stick to farming,' and 'I’m not afraid of a fight.'

Now, in a single night, all 32 of her commercial endorsements have collapsed, leading to a direct loss of tens of millions. Once a staple at the Liaoning TV Spring Festival Gala, her name is now absent from the current lineup. Lin Aofei's acting career has also come to a complete standstill, with her Weibo account no longer updated, rendering her a 'powerless debater' in the eyes of the public.

Yan Xuejing issued an apology on her social media, claiming that her 'soul underwent surgery.' However, to the public, this appears more like a public relations maneuver following the depletion of her finances.

And what kind of shocking revelations will the three officials who voluntarily surrendered disclose? We are all awaiting an answer. Netizens firmly believe that the dark underbelly of the entertainment industry extends far beyond this.

(Published first by People News)
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