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Fanaticism leads to chaos as mob shatters mall doors in China

A promotional event for actor Zhang Linghe spiraled into a dangerous security failure, forcing a total cancellation of the appearance.

Foreign PolicyPublished June 1, 2026 at 11:34 AMProcessed June 2, 2026 at 1:32 AM
A composite image of Zhang Linghe and the shattering glass with a crowd

The cult of celebrity took a dangerous turn in Nanning, China, this past Sunday when a massive crowd gathered at a shopping center to see actor Zhang Linghe. The situation quickly devolved into a security nightmare as the sheer volume of people overwhelmed the venue, resulting in shattered glass doors and injuries among the attendees.

The actor, known for his role in the drama 'Pursuit of Jade,' was scheduled to appear at a promotional event for the eyewear brand Molsion. However, the event was abruptly cancelled after videos surfaced showing packed crowds swarming balconies and creating a hazardous environment.

While the actor's studio and the brand have since issued apologies and promised to cover travel costs and medical expenses for those injured, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by lack of crowd control and the volatility of mass gatherings.

The event was ultimately moved to an online format, as organizers were forced to acknowledge that their initial safety measures were woefully inadequate for the scale of the fan turnout.

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foreign-policychinapublic-safetycelebrity-culturenanning

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