Wikipedia Goes Wild: Ian Fang's Page Vandalized, Sparking Outrage and Dark Humor on Reddit

A screenshot of what appeared to be a hilariously (and shockingly) vandalized Wikipedia page for Singaporean actor Ian Fang recently made waves on r/SingaporeRaw, posted by user Decision_Burner under the simple title "Ian Fang’s wikipedia page just now." The image, displaying a heavily altered biography for the actor, quickly became a focal point for both dark humor and serious discussions about online vigilantism and the public's perception of convicted individuals.

The altered Wikipedia entry was certainly a sight to behold. Instead of his real name, the page prominently displayed "LanJiao Fang" as his birth name, followed by "Chinese convicted sex offender and retired actor based in Singapore." A bizarre image of a dog was placed where a photo of Ian Fang should have been, labeled "Fang in May 2017." The "Criminal status" was listed as "Pending incarceration," with charges including "Sexual penetration of a minor, harassment, obstruction of justice," and a "Penalty" of "40 months imprisonment." The introduction text further described him as a "motherless dog and a world-class bastard."

The Reddit community's reactions were a mix of stunned laughter and righteous indignation. User Bor3d-Panda simply posted an image of someone trying to hold back laughter, perfectly capturing the initial shock. zuoying_ openly admitted:

I literally LOL-ed in the public HAHAHAHAH.

However, beneath the humor, many users quickly expressed their distaste for the actor's actual conviction, which was mentioned in the later, unaltered part of the Wikipedia entry (and was what led him to leave Mediacorp in 2023). Dimsumdollies, a verified user, stated:

I would rather have his intro as a convicted sexual predator, preying on minors than this Lanjiao Fang nonsense.

The discussion also touched on the broader issue of a public sex offender registry in Singapore. OP, Decision_Burner, asked:

indeed, on another note, is there a public sex offender list in sg?

Efficient_Deer_8605 responded, noting a specific Reddit user who often lists names of convicted individuals:

There’s a guy or 2 that will frequently comment a long list of Chinese names who committed sexual offences

User straddleThemAll then provided a comprehensive list of names, implicitly adding Ian Fang to it:

Add him to the list Ian Fang, another soulless sex offender like Jason Zhang, Lin Shi Pei, Dylan Chia Yong Wei, Ng Sheng Wei Dean, Leong Weng Wai, Chua Jin Leong, Tan Jun Hao, Teng Chee Wee, Hui Hsien Han, Tan Jeck Tuang, Lin Junquan, Fong Poh Kuen, Teo Jun How, Von Ling Wei Hao, Leonard Tan Song Hui, and Loh Wei Qi.

Many users called for severe consequences for Ian Fang beyond his jail sentence. Terminator1108 commented:

He should be deported after serving his sentence. His PR/Citizenship should revoked.

The conversation then shifted to the nature of the Wikipedia vandalism itself. While some found it cathartic, others viewed it as unhelpful. tentacle_, a verified user, expressed disapproval:

I don't agree with vandalizing wikipedia to make yourself look like hero. Only make problem for the maintainers/cleaners to undo your shit. State facts can already.

The original poster, Decision_Burner, clarified they were not the vandal and simply stumbled upon the page:

idk about looking like a hero i cant even find who did it, i dont even know ian fang and wanted to just check out his page

Ultimately, the vandalized Wikipedia page and the ensuing Reddit discussion showcased a complex mix of public anger, a desire for justice (even if vigilante in nature), and the often-unfiltered commentary that surfaces online when individuals perceive a discrepancy between legal outcomes and what they believe is truly deserved. The vandalism, while fleeting (as the page was quickly reverted), served as a stark, if crude, reflection of a segment of public sentiment regarding the actor's actions.