The death of Chinese actor Yu Menglong-known internationally as Alan Yu-has ignited a storm of speculation and protest across continents, as growing public distrust of the official account gives rise to elaborate conspiracy theories involving alleged media executives, political elites, and widespread censorship.
Authorities said Yu, 34, died on September 11, 2025, after falling from a residential building in Beijing, describing the event as "an accidental fall" linked to alcohol intoxication. Officials cited "dangerous" blood-alcohol levels to support the ruling. Yet fans and observers have rejected that conclusion, calling it a cover-up. Demonstrators have held vigils in Beijing and outside Times Square in New York, demanding the release of surveillance footage, phone logs, and Yu's full autopsy report.
Online petitions have surged. A campaign on Avaaz has surpassed 500,000 signatures, while a parallel Change.org petition urges Chinese authorities to identify everyone present at a dinner party reportedly held the night before Yu's death-now labeled by supporters as the "death banquet." Activists also allege mass deletions of social-media posts referencing Yu or the incident on Chinese platforms Weibo and Douyin.
Central to the speculation is a rumored "top executive" said to have connections to Yu's former agency, Tianyu Media Co. Ltd., and to high-level political families. Online commentators claim the figure appeared on a supposed guest list from the dinner, though no official confirmation has been released.
Investigative narrator Stephany Soo intensified attention after posting a viral video naming Xin Qi as the alleged executive. Soo described him as a "Top Fan," a term used in China for individuals of influence who cultivate close ties with celebrities. In her video, she alleged that Xin Qi was present at the final dinner attended by Alan Yu.
Reports circulating on Chinese and overseas social media suggest that Xin Qi may also be known as Xin Xiaoxiong or Xin Xiaolong and has been rumored to be an illegitimate son of senior Chinese political figure Cai Qi. He is described as the head of Tianyu Media, which previously represented Yu Menglong. None of these claims have been independently verified, but they have fueled what Chinese censors appear to be treating as a rapidly spreading narrative.
As speculation broadens, the number of supposed "people of interest" discussed by netizens has ballooned from six to forty-one. Among them are actress Kan Xin-rumored, without proof, to have been romantically linked to Yu-and veteran performer Tian Hairong, who posted a now-deleted video on the night before his death. Viewers claim the clip's background audio contained "distress sounds," a claim that remains unverified.
Adding to the furor are references to an alleged "dark-web video" purportedly showing interrogation or abuse preceding Yu's death. Despite the viral claims, no authenticated version of such footage has surfaced.
