July 23, 2025: Chinese actor and singer Zhang Yiyang was reportedly executed last year for the 2022 murder of a 16-year-old girl. This marks the first known instance of a mainland Chinese entertainer being executed for such a crime, as reported by Channel News Asia.
According to records from the Intermediate People’s Court of Xianyang City, Zhang, then 30, lured the teenager into a remote forest near Xingping City on February 26, 2022, under the guise of a birthday celebration. A dispute escalated, leading Zhang to fatally attack her with a folding knife. He then allegedly attempted to conceal his crime by disposing of his clothes and the victim’s phone in a reservoir before checking into a hotel with intentions of taking his own life. Hotel staff intervened and alerted authorities, leading to his swift arrest. Reports indicate Zhang had been dating the victim since September 2021 and had allegedly coerced her to remain in the relationship when she wished to end it.
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Zhang was handed a death sentence by a local court, which was upheld upon appeal. He was subsequently executed about six months later, on December 18, 2024, according to court statements cited by Channel News Asia.
The local media coverage of Zhang’s case ignited outrage and shock on Chinese social media platforms like Weibo and Douban. Commentators expressed dismay at the brutality of the crime and, notably, at the entertainment industry’s apparent lack of formal response. There was particular anger over the continued availability of Zhang’s works, including the film The Sound of Music (also known as Jieyou Sound Hall), which premiered in March 2025. Unlike other celebrities implicated in misconduct, Zhang has not been added to China’s official “bad artist” blacklist, nor have his works been removed from streaming platforms.
Born on May 1, 1990, in Xingping, Zhang Yiyang began his career in 2012 on a reality TV show. He went on to release songs such as “I Only Care About People Who Care About Me” and “Crying Man,” and held minor acting roles in web series and low-profile TV shows.