Chinese actress Zhao Lusi (赵露思), known for her roles in hit dramas such as The Romance Of Tiger And Rose (传闻中的陈芊芊, 2020) and Love Like The Galaxy (星汉灿烂，2022), shared a candid and emotional post on Weibo on 1 January 2025.
The 26-year-old revealed she had been a victim of alleged physical abuse at the workplace and has been battling depression since 2019.
In her lengthy post, accompanied by pictures of herself and her friends, as well as an image of her weighing just 36kg on a scale, Zhao recounted painful memories of her past.
Standing at 1.61m tall, the actress shared that she had been subjected to physical abuse by her teachers during her school years due to poor academic performance.
Zhao Opens Up About Workplace Abuse and Finding the Strength to Break Free
“When I got older, I got hit too, and I thought it was my fault for not being able to make it through my auditions,” she wrote. “I didn’t dare to make a scene, I just wanted to escape.”
Zhao hinted at abuse by a female figure in her workplace without naming anyone, implying the individual was in a supervisory role.
“Eventually, my work became recognised by the public, and, thanks to that, I gained the courage to say goodbye,” Zhao disclosed.
“But even at the end, she took a hefty ‘break-up sum’ before she was willing to stop. She made up rumours that hurt my reputation to people in and out of the industry.”
Zhao further revealed her ongoing battle with depression, sharing a doctor’s note that confirmed her diagnosis of anxiety.
“Being depressed is a feeling, but depression is an illness. It’s not something that can be resolved simply by ‘letting it go’ or ‘talking about it,’” she emphasised.
Zhao Reveals Mental Health Struggles Amid Escalating Physical Ailments Since 2019
Her struggles with mental health began in 2019 and worsened in 2021 when her psychological issues started affecting her physical health.
Zhao detailed multiple health complications, including pneumonia, hives, and hearing loss in 2023, coupled with the loss of loved ones. These experiences further deteriorated her mental state.
By 2024, Zhao began experiencing frequent nausea, dizziness, joint pain, and heightened allergic reactions.
She said, “It is ridiculous that one has to open up and show their scars to prove that they are not just too sensitive to stress and unable to be contented with what they have.”
Zhao’s revelation came after weeks of silence amid growing concerns about her health.
Fans became alarmed in December after seeing her in a wheelchair.
Studio Confirms Zhao’s Hospitalisation in December but Withholds Details on Her Condition
Her studio later confirmed she was hospitalised on 18 December due to ill health but did not specify the condition.
Actress Wei Xiao (魏笑), Zhao’s friend and co-star in The Romance Of Tiger And Rose, posted pictures of Zhao in a wheelchair on Xiaohongshu on 29 December, disclosing that Zhao had temporarily lost her ability to speak but was recovering with rehabilitation.
Industry Figures and Former Associates Respond to Zhao’s Allegations
On 1 January, Zhao also shared a recap of her 2024 on Douyin, featuring clips of her hospitalisation, struggles to walk and eat, and moments in a wheelchair.
The news has sparked outrage among netizens, many of whom are demanding accountability from Zhao’s alleged abuser.
Li Wei (李炜), the founder of her management agency Galaxy Cool Entertainment, denied the accusations in a WeChat post.
Galaxy Cool Entertainment also issued a statement defending its handling of Zhao, stating that her health and well-being have always been a priority.
The controversy deepened on 2 January when renowned producer Yu Zheng (于正), known for Story Of Yanxi Palace (延禧攻略, 2018), revealed he was being cyberbullied by Zhao’s supporters.
He addressed Zhao in a Weibo post, writing: “What did I ever do to you? Say something. I was the one who recommended you to many people before you were famous.”
Yu further tagged actress Xu Yiruo, reportedly Zhao’s former manager, urging her to clarify the situation.
While Xu did not respond directly, her lawyer issued a statement denying allegations of physical abuse and claiming that the hefty contract termination fee was fabricated.
The lawyer warned of potential legal action against those spreading false claims.
