LayarHijau – Chinese actress Zhao Lusi made waves on August 3 after hosting two spontaneous livestreams that quickly went viral across social media. Appearing barefaced, without filters or makeup, and with donation features turned off, Zhao spoke candidly to fans about her current state, career reflections, and, most notably, her escalating conflict with her agency, Galaxy Cool Entertainment (银河酷娛).
Her most quoted line from the stream? “If everything fails, I’ll just open a noodle shop.”
What sounded like a joke carried undertones of frustration and resolve—signaling her growing detachment from the entertainment industry, or at least from her current management.
The impact was immediate. Her first livestream drew over 25 million viewers, and within 24 hours, her follower count jumped by 280,000. Everything she wore in the stream—down to the smallest accessories—went viral. The red moonmoi baseball cap she wore (239 yuan / ~US$33) and the red dress from AAAD (579 yuan / ~US$80) sold out almost instantly. Fans even tracked down her nail polish, dog’s outfit, and the noodle shop and mantou bakery she mentioned during the stream. The livestream became not only an emotional release but also a demonstration of Zhao’s unrivaled selling power, Upmedia reported.
Beneath the casual atmosphere, however, Zhao delivered a pointed and public confrontation aimed directly at her agency. “I’m not crazy,” she said. “I just wanted to resolve things. I’ve been ignored.” She confirmed that she’s willing to pay the termination fee—just not willing to continue being dismissed or silenced.
This came just one day after Zhao posted a lengthy statement on Weibo (August 2), accusing Galaxy Cool Entertainment of misconduct during the production of her now-canceled drama The Lover (恋人). Zhao revealed she was hospitalized in December 2024 for aphasia and severe depression, during which the agency dissolved the production team without informing her, then transferred 2.05 million yuan (~US$280,000) from her studio account to cover the crew’s compensation—all without her consent.
Worse still, Zhao claims that when she requested to terminate her contract, the agency responded with threats of blacklisting. Her contract with Galaxy Cool doesn’t expire until 2030, and industry estimates say an early exit could cost her up to 1.6 billion yuan (~US$220 million) in penalties.
On August 3, Galaxy Cool responded publicly, denying any illegal or unethical behavior and calling for calm negotiations. They also cautioned Zhao against posting vague or misleading statements that could sway public opinion.
Zhao was unimpressed. She fired back with three consecutive posts on Weibo, sarcastically writing, “So many shareholders in this company—did even one of them message me?” She went further, accusing the agency of spreading rumors that she had faked her illness, and named CEO Xu Zhe directly, stating that while she was on medication and oxygen therapy, he was skiing in Hokkaido.
“I have countless recordings and evidence,” she warned. “They’re welcome to sue.” Yet she also admitted exhaustion: “I’ve already spent ten years of my youth with this company. I don’t want to waste any more of my life on this.”
Fans flooded her comment sections with support, some encouraging her to take legal action, others pledging to stand by her regardless of the outcome. The incident has sparked renewed debate in China’s entertainment industry around artist rights, contract fairness, and mental health.
Despite the turmoil, Zhao Lusi’s influence remains undeniable. Whether she stays in the industry or opens that noodle shop, millions will be watching.
