On the early morning of May 20, host Wang Han's studio issued a statement regarding the matter of "serving as the producer of the film 'Mother from Prison.'" The statement clarified that the original intention was to support artistic creation, but due to a lack of thorough due diligence on the project's background and content, Wang Han carelessly agreed to be listed as a producer. The studio expressed deep apologies to the public for this oversight.

The film's promotional materials emphasized that it was "adapted from a true story" and featured "the real-life person portraying the character." Lead actor Zhao Xiaohong stated online that he had served a 10-year prison sentence. Screenwriter Qin Xiaoyu also indicated that Zhao Xiaohong participated in the filming while serving his sentence in prison. The film has sparked controversy over allegations of distorting judicial facts.

On May 19, Zhao Xiaohong's Weibo account was banned for "violating laws, regulations, or the Weibo Community Convention," and all posted content was cleared. On the same day, staff from the National Film Administration stated that they were aware of the situation and were handling it, but could not provide further details at the time.

Zhou Zhaocheng, a lawyer from Beijing Anjian Law Firm, pointed out that serving prisoners are not allowed to participate in commercial film and television performances, and prison activities are prohibited from generating commercial profits. In this case, Zhao Xiaohong's appearance in a commercial film during his prison term constitutes a violation of the law. The lawyer emphasized that artistic creation must operate within the legal framework, and crossing boundaries entails responsibility.