 criticized the lawsuit, and Boston’s PBS station Frontline stated that the lawsuit “poses first amendment issues and is a potential threat to all newsgathering, reportorial and academic sites.”

While the lawsuit focused on the website, some student leaders continued to criticize the film.Feng Congde wrote an Open Letter in May 2009, referring to what he said was "false reporting and editing" with regard to Chai Ling in "The Gate of Heavenly Peace.