Xiazhui: The Real Person Slash Novel that Triggers the Blockage of AO3 in China

Owing to its dual correlation with homosexuality and eroticism, danmei (Boys Love) in China is subject state censorship, so a hit online serial The Untamed adapted from popular novel, the male-male relationship between protagonists has been expurgated. Obsessed romance original narrative yet dissatisfied officially sanctioned adaptation, fangirls create fanfiction, including real person slash (RPS) based on leading actor Xiao Zhan his co-star Untamed. Xiao’s fans reported piece of RPS titled Xiazhui Archaic Our Own (AO3) that hosted it, causing AO3 be blocked 29th February 2020. Since features celebrities, it concerns moral debates. Furthermore, pertains fanbase whose acts are interconnected toxic fandom so-called ‘heresy-style star worship’. More significantly, contentious aspect also lies homoerotic depictions regarded as indecent contemporary Chinese context.