LayarHijau – Actress Zhang Haoyue has shocked the public with serious accusations against Esther Yu. In a series of social media posts on September 5 and 6, Zhang revealed that she suffered bullying while appearing with Esther Yu on the variety show Grade One: Graduation Season in 2016. According to Zhang, the painful experience left her with severe depression and even drove her to the brink of suicide.
Zhang Haoyue claimed that during the filming of the show, she was often treated as if she were invisible, mocked with the term “spider spirit.” In Chinese folklore, this refers to a spider demon character, often portrayed as manipulative, evil, and deceitful. In modern slang, the term is used as an insult, stigmatizing someone as malicious and untrustworthy. Zhang said she was deliberately mimicked for ridicule, threatened so that others would avoid her, and excluded from group interactions. The situation left her with severe depression and physical health issues, including facial and hand tremors, digestive problems, and joint damage that required major surgery. In 2019, Zhang even attempted suicide and was hospitalized in intensive care for three days. Zhang is also known for her role in the drama Scent of Time.
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The controversy comes at a time when Esther Yu, who rose to fame through dramas such as Love Between Fairy and Devil with Dylan Wang and My Journey to You with Ding Yuxi, is already under intense scrutiny. In addition to Zhang Haoyue’s accusations, Esther Yu’s family has also faced serious allegations. A financial blogger on Douyin, “Lao Pan Finance,” accused Yu’s father, Yu Pijie, of illegally using 1.5 billion yuan (around $206 million) in state-owned enterprise funds through his company Huashang Mining. The company was also said to have suspicious tax records, raising concerns of tax evasion or financial fraud.
Although Esther Yu’s studio released a statement denying the claims, public backlash has not subsided. The controversy has begun to affect her commercial partnerships, with major brands such as Chando and Yili removing promotional photos and materials featuring her. Talk of boycotts has been gaining traction on social media.
Esther Yu’s work schedule has also been disrupted. She traveled to Thailand for a variety show tied to her new project Speed and Love, but co-star He Yu returned to China after just two days, sparking speculation that he wanted to distance himself from the controversy. Furthermore, her upcoming costume drama A Journey to Glow, which was set to begin filming on September 11, also faced setbacks when lead actor Wang Anyu suddenly withdrew right before production. These developments have cast uncertainty over Esther Yu’s career prospects.
Source: Upmedia, World Journal
