A male celebrity in China was executed after being convicted of murdering his underage girlfriend following her decision to end their relationship, a case that has sent shockwaves through the country’s entertainment scene.
This marks the first known execution of a public figure in China’s entertainment industry and has triggered widespread public reaction.
Local media outlets including Hongseong Newspaper and Geukmok Newspaper reported that the Intermediate People’s Court in Shaanxi Province sentenced Zhang Yi Yang—an actor and singer—to death after he brutally killed his girlfriend.
His execution by firing squad was reportedly carried out in December last year.
News of the punishment gained traction after the court’s official announcement was shared on Chinese social media platforms.
Court documents revealed that Zhang, born in 1990, had exhibited troubling behavior prior to the murder, including multiple suicide threats in response to his girlfriend’s decision to end their relationship.
The couple had been dating since 2021. On his birthday in February 2022, Zhang lured the girl to meet him and, during a heated argument, launched a deadly attack using a weapon he had brought in advance.
“He stabbed the victim’s left carotid artery, jugular vein, trachea, and esophagus, causing severe damage,” the court report said. “She died at the scene due to massive blood loss and airway obstruction.” The victim was only 16 years old.
Following the murder, Zhang attempted to conceal the crime by dumping her body in a reservoir and discarding her mobile phone and blood-soaked clothes.
The next day, he tried to commit suicide in a hotel room but was discovered in time by hotel staff and rushed to hospital. He was later taken into police custody.
The court cited the “brutal” nature of the act and its “socially negative impact” in handing down the death sentence, which was swiftly carried out.
Zhang Yi Yang had previously appeared on variety shows and released solo music albums. His work in the film industry earned him recognition in 2019 when he received the Best New Actor award at the Jinshangjiang awards.
