A Chinese variety show has landed in hot water after eagle-eyed netizens discovered that some celebrities appeared to have had their seat belts digitally added in post-production rather than actually wearing them.

The controversy first erupted after the premiere of This Is My Adventure S2 aired on May 29.

Viewers analysing scenes frame by frame claimed that the seat belts worn by several celebrity guests looked suspiciously edited, pointing to details such as unnatural angles, faded colours and blurry buckle connections.

According to reports, only idol Yan Haoxiang appeared to be wearing a real seat belt, while the others allegedly had theirs added later using visual effects.

The issue quickly snowballed online, with many criticising the production team for spending time editing seat belts into the footage instead of ensuring that the cast buckled up properly during filming.

Reports also noted that a similar practice was exposed in the latest season of hit variety show Keep Running, which faced similar allegations in 2024 after viewers accused the production team of digitally adding safety belts onto celebrities in car scenes.

In one apparent editing blunder, both a real and digitally added seat belt could reportedly be seen in the same shot.

The backlash grew so intense that China's Ministry of Public Security Traffic Management Bureau stepped in on June 1 with a rare public statement.

"Safety is not for show, and there is no room for self-deception," the agency posted on Weibo, reminding the public that both drivers and passengers are required by law to wear seat belts while a vehicle is in motion.

The bureau also stressed that celebrities and variety programmes wield significant influence and should set a good example when it comes to public safety.

As of June 3, neither programme had issued an official response. However, discussion surrounding the controversy continues to dominate social media, with related hashtags reportedly racking up more than 800 million views.

According to online reports, some variety shows have already begun tightening filming protocols, including conducting mandatory seat-belt checks before recording and incorporating more on-screen safety reminders.

Keep Running

Photos: 公安部交通管理局/Weibo, libertytimesnet/Instagram, Keep Running

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