Recently, the nominations for the 29th Shanghai Television Festival Magnolia Awards were announced, sparking intense debates among fans. The nominations for actors in the TV drama “War of Faith” (Wind Chaser) became a focal point. In the eyes of Wang Yibo’s fans, Wang Yang is a supporting actor, not the lead, while the lead actor Wang Yibo was not nominated. This not only caused an uproar among Wang Yibo’s fans, but also led to numerous speculations when Wang Yang deleted a comment about Wang Yibo.
The incident has been brewing online for two days. Wang Yibo has not responded, while Wang Yang’s wife has responded on his behalf online.
“War of Faith” is a spy drama that tells the story of two ambitious young men trying to change the fate of their country during turbulent times. Wang Yibo plays Wei Ruolai, a young and promising financial genius with high aspirations, whose performance was well-received by the audience. Wang Yang plays Shen Tunan, a calm and seasoned financial expert. The two characters move from opposition to cooperation, facing crises together.
Undeniably, Wang Yibo has indeed gained recognition due to “War of Faith.”
In the drama, the scenes between Wang Yibo and Wang Yang are riveting, especially their tacit cooperation in critical moments, pushing the plot to its climax. However, the mentor-protégé relationship in the drama has turned into a real-life feud over the Magnolia Award nominations.
On May 30th, the Magnolia Award nominations were announced. Wang Yang was nominated for Best Actor for his role as Shen Tunan in “War of Faith,” while Wang Yibo did not make the list. This outcome angered Wang Yibo’s fans, who believe that Wang Yibo is the lead actor in “War of Faith,” and Wang Yang is the supporting actor, with the nomination rightfully belonging to Wang Yibo.
Fans expressed their dissatisfaction on social media, flooding Wang Yang’s and “War of Faith” director Yao Xiaofeng’s Weibo comment sections with criticism and accusations. They believe that Wang Yibo is the soul of the show, and without his stellar performance, the drama would not have garnered such high attention and popularity. Fans question why Wang Yibo’s contribution was overlooked at a critical moment, while Wang Yang received the nomination.
Wang Yibo has remained silent in the face of fan criticism. Media analyses point out that the Magnolia Award selection rules allow a drama to submit up to two male leads, and the final nomination list is decided by the committee. Clearly, Wang Yang’s acting and the importance of his role were recognized by the judges.
Furthermore, industry insiders indicate that Wang Yang’s performance in “War of Faith” is indeed outstanding. His portrayal of Shen Tunan is steady and decisive, leaving a deep impression on the audience. While Wang Yibo also delivered an excellent performance, the judges may have felt that his role was slightly less weighted and deep.
As the controversy continues to ferment, rumors are spreading online that Wang Yibo and Wang Yang have unfriended each other. Although neither party has publicly responded to this, the heated fan debates undoubtedly lend credibility to the rumors. Many lament the transition from a harmonious mentor-protégé relationship on screen to real-life estrangement.
In this turmoil, while the intense reactions from both fanbases are understandable, we should also recognize that both the actors’ performances and award selections have subjective and objective standards. As one of the three highest awards in Chinese television, the Magnolia Award is renowned for its authority and fairness. The selection process and results are based on multiple factors, not solely on the judges’ discretion.
For Wang Yibo, despite not being nominated this time, his acting progress is evident, and there are many opportunities ahead. As a young actor, he needs more experience and time to prove himself. On the other hand, Wang Yang, a seasoned actor, has had his acting and experience acknowledged in this selection, which is the result of his years of persistent effort.
The Magnolia Award nomination dispute highlights the fierce and complex competition in the entertainment industry. Regardless of who ultimately wins the award, audiences hope to see a fair and just selection process, and for actors to continue delivering excellent performances and acting to the audience.
Every actor aspires to prove themselves through prestigious awards, but the nomination process is not entirely within their control. The competition is ubiquitous, and it should not be influenced by which fanbase is more vocal.
Although Wang Yibo and Wang Yang are not of the same generation, they share a common goal of bringing more outstanding performances to the audience.
Fans should also view the competition between their idols rationally, respecting the efforts and achievements of each actor. Only in this way can a harmonious and healthy entertainment environment be fostered.