Celebrity Ex-Friends Reunite 10 Years After Their Friendship Imploded

A decade after their falling out, two celebs have now reunited. But can they put the past behind them?

Singer-actor Ma Tianyu and actress-turned-producer Zhang Meng appeared on the variety show I Miss You, which brings former friends together to revisit their relationships. Their appearance marked their first time sharing the screen in almost ten years, giving them an opportunity to address the misunderstanding that had driven them apart.

The pair first grew close in 2016 while filming the Chinese drama Ice Fantasy. However, their friendship took a turn after Zhang transitioned into producing. She later invited Ma to take on a role in a C-Drama reportedly identified as Princess Silver, but he declined. At the time, his father was ill, and he also felt the script was not right for him. Upset by his refusal, Zhang reacted in the heat of the moment, saying, “Then don’t ever appear in any of my dramas again.” Ma interpreted her words as a form of moral blackmail, feeling that their friendship was being used to pressure him into accepting the role. He subsequently cut off contact with her, removing her from WeChat, and his family members cut off contact with her as well.

During their reunion, Zhang presented Ma–who collects mugs as a hobby–with a collection of mugs she had purchased while travelling to different destinations during their estrangement. “Every time I travelled, I thought of you,” she told him. After airing out their grievance and explaining their sides of the story, both celebs agreed to reconnect on social media. However, things aren’t exactly back to the way they were before.

Ma said, “There is actually a crack in our relationship now.”