Dylan Wang’s Rise: From TV Hit to Global Brand Ambassador Amid Legal Battles and the Expanding Fan Economy

Born in the coastal city of Chengdu, Wang burst onto the public eye in 2017 after winning the “Super Dimension Idol” competition on Youku, a victory that secured his entry into the industry and set the stage for a rapid ascent. A year later he joined the cast of “Meteor Garden,” a Chinese adaptation of the beloved Japanese manga, a role that cemented his status as an overnight sensation. Yet it was the 2022 drama “Love Between Fairy and Devil” that truly vaulted him into the top tier of Chinese celebrities. The series, which blended fantasy romance with a dose of slap‑stick humor, logged more than 10,000 points in popularity on streaming platforms and dominated the weekly heat charts. Critics praised Wang’s chemistry with co‑star Bai Lu, while audiences were drawn to his flamboyant portrayal of a female immortal—a performance that sparked countless memes and cemented his reputation as a versatile, charismatic lead.

The success of “Love Between Fairy and Devil” has had a ripple effect beyond the screen. In early 2023, Wang launched a personal fashion line, D.Desirable, which quickly attracted scrutiny after a surge of counterfeit products appeared online. His management company—through which Wang holds roughly 29 percent indirect equity—responded by filing legal actions against those spreading false information and by demanding transparency from e‑commerce platforms. The dispute resurfaced later in 2024 when a paparazzi clip was shared on social media; the studio labeled the video as fabricated, hired lawyers to collect evidence, and warned that it would pursue defamation suits against anyone circulating malicious rumors.

These legal maneuvers highlight a broader shift in how Chinese celebrities are protecting their brands. In March 2025, Wang’s studio announced a formal lawsuit targeting a group of social‑media users, some of whom were well‑known fans of his former co‑star Yu Shuxin. The move, while unusual, underscores the increasing stakes of the “fan economy,” where a single negative post can translate into measurable financial loss and reputational damage.

Wang’s growing marketability has attracted a suite of high‑profile endorsements. He serves as global brand ambassador for Yadea, a leading electric‑scooter maker, and recently became the face of Rococo’s worldwide campaign. In 2022 he appeared in a sugar‑free Pepsi commercial, and he has been tapped by luxury houses such as Guerlain and Hennessy for special‑edition collaborations. The actor’s appeal also extends into the hospitality sector; recent Weibo posts show him promoting Harbin Beer, while a partnership with Xiamen‑based Tianliny E‑commerce hints at a potential venture into lifestyle products. Perhaps most striking is his involvement in a concert series dubbed the “Wang Hedi D.Party,” scheduled for Bangkok in November 2024, a rare example of a Chinese star headlining a multi‑city music tour in Southeast Asia.

The confluence of on‑screen fame and off‑screen commercial clout is reshaping the power dynamics of Chinese advertising. Where once global brands relied on mass‑media campaigns and generic spokespeople, they are now courting individual celebrities whose personal brand can deliver highly targeted, culturally resonant messages. Wang’s ability to secure “title upgrades” from both international luxury labels and domestic staples signals a new era where the lines between actor, influencer and entrepreneur blur.

Beyond the boardroom, Wang’s influence is palpable among ordinary consumers. His remarks about basketball—his favorite pastime—regularly prompt spikes in social‑media threads about the sport, while videos of him sharing “cat‑written” captions on Douyin gather millions of likes. A recent fan‑requested clip, in which he showcased his physique for the drama “Da Feng Da Geng Ren,” amassed more than 30,000 popularity points within hours of posting, demonstrating the immediacy with which his audience can amplify his personal narrative.

The bustling activity around his latest project, “Da Feng Da Geng Ren,” is a testament to that dynamic. The fantasy series, which premiered in mid‑2025, has quickly eclipsed 30,000 points in the streaming platform’s popularity metric, a milestone that only a handful of contemporary dramas achieve. The show’s rising viewership, combined with Wang’s active engagement—replying to fan comments, posting behind‑the‑scenes footage, and even teasing further physical training videos—has sparked a wave of online buzz that rivals the promotional machine of any Hollywood blockbuster.

Wang’s soaring profile also carries broader cultural implications. His participation in the NBA All‑Star Celebrity Game, his presence at the Singapore‑based Yuewen IP Awards and his frequent invitations to high‑visibility events such as Weibo Night signal a growing role for Chinese entertainers as informal cultural ambassadors. The soft‑power impact cannot be understated: as Wang’s image appears on billboards in Bangkok, on TikTok feeds in Los Angeles, and on e‑commerce sites in Shanghai, he contributes to a nuanced, youthful portrait of contemporary China that differs sharply from the political and economic narratives that dominate Western headlines.

At the same time, his influence raises questions about the responsibilities that accompany such reach. Fans, often organized into well‑coordinated online communities, can mobilize en masse to defend or attack public figures, shaping conversation in ways that sometimes outpace factual verification. The studio’s readiness to pursue legal action against rumor‑mongers illustrates an emerging tension between protecting a celebrity’s reputation and preserving free discourse in a hyper‑connected media environment.

Financially, the diversification of Wang’s revenue streams—from acting fees and endorsement contracts to potential equity stakes in his management firm and the merchandise linked to D.Desirable—offers a template for the next generation of Chinese artists. It suggests a future in which the traditional model of a singular “actor” role expands into a multi‑faceted brand ecosystem that includes product lines, philanthropic endeavors, and even cross‑industry collaborations.

As the drama “Da Feng Da Geng Ren” continues its ascent and the next round of concert tickets sell out, Wang Hedi stands at a crossroads that few of his contemporaries have yet to encounter. He is simultaneously a television star, a global brand ambassador, a digital influencer, and a litigant defending his personal and commercial reputation. His trajectory reflects the rapid evolution of China’s entertainment sector, where celebrity power is no longer confined to the silver screen but radiates across social media, consumer markets and international cultural forums.

Whether Wang’s next move will be a new fashion capsule, another foray into music, or a carefully timed appearance at an overseas awards ceremony, one thing is clear: the world is watching, and his every step offers a glimpse into how fame, commerce and cultural influence intertwine in the digital age.