Yu Zheng, long known as a “traffic generator” in China’s entertainment industry, has once again landed on the trending charts. This time, the scandal didn’t directly involve him but his artists—yet he still ended up in the eye of the storm. Watching him scramble to defend himself during a livestream, many netizens couldn’t help but ask: does he ever think before he speaks?
The controversy began when actress Xu Lisha suddenly dropped bombshell claims on social media. In a “breakup statement,” she alleged that she and actor Xu Kai ended their relationship at the end of 2022 after she discovered Xu and fellow actress Zhao Qing had been caught entering a hotel together. With Xu Kai being one of the most popular leading men of the moment and Zhao Qing a rising star under Yu Zheng’s company, Huanyu Film, the accusation was explosive. If true, Xu would be branded “unfaithful” and Zhao labeled a “homewrecker,” jeopardizing both careers. Worse still, both are core artists of Yu Zheng’s company—meaning the fallout could shake his entire business.
In an attempt at damage control, Yu Zheng quickly went live to “clarify.” But instead of easing doubts, his explanation fueled more skepticism. He claimed Zhao Qing only went to the hotel to help Xu Kai rehearse lines. Many found this implausible: why would script coaching require a private hotel room? Netizens also pointed out that Yu himself had previously admitted the two were in a relationship—only to now deny it completely, contradicting his own words.
The livestream backfired spectacularly. Netizens mocked his explanation with comments like, “Were the scripts written on the bed sheets?” Others dug up old paparazzi footage of Xu Kai and Zhao Qing being intimate, using it as evidence against his claims. Yu’s casual livestream style—chatting and eating on camera—was interpreted not as calmness, but as forced nonchalance, making him look guilty.
Yu Zheng’s impulsive speech has long been a liability. In 2019, he publicly remarked, “If Angelababy hadn’t had a child, I would have cast her as Little Dragon Girl,” a comment framed as praise but also seen as a jab at actress Chen Yanxi, which caused uproar. The entertainment industry is rife with controversy, and a public figure’s words can backfire at any moment. Yet Yu continues to let his mouth run ahead of his brain.
His company, Huanyu Film & TV, has produced many hit dramas, but controversies trail closely behind. The most infamous case came in 2014, when his drama Palace 3: The Lost Daughter (《宫锁连城》) was ruled by the courts to have plagiarized Chiung Yao’s classic Plum Blossom Scar (《梅花烙》). The lawsuit dealt a heavy blow, cementing his reputation among audiences as a “plagiarist director.”
Huanyu’s artists have also faced waves of negative publicity. In 2013, actress Yuan Shanshan was relentlessly cyberbullied after playing Ren Yingying in Swordsman (《笑傲江湖》), even trending under “Get out of the entertainment industry.” Yu Zheng defended her, but the backlash was unstoppable, and his efforts were ridiculed as “smothering with kindness.”
In 2020, Yu suddenly dredged up an old story from 2013, alleging that actor Shen Tai once slapped him over casting disputes. Netizens immediately saw it as a transparent attempt to chase clout, not a genuine recollection.
This time, Yu clearly underestimated Xu Lisha’s determination. She not only taunted him repeatedly but also vowed to reveal more, even joking, “Yu Zheng wants to catch me, who will save little Shasha?” Her combative stance was far from the image of a passive, timid actress—she seemed ready for a full-on fight.
Public opinion on Yu Zheng is now overwhelmingly negative. Some accuse him of favoring male artists, others mock him for “treating audiences like fools.” This scandal has once again exposed his poor crisis management skills and put cracks in the carefully crafted persona he has maintained for years.
As a veteran of the entertainment industry, Yu Zheng should know that discretion is a basic requirement for any public figure. Yet he seems unable to resist dramatizing every situation, almost as if he enjoys dancing on the edge of scandal. But being quick-tongued and theatrical is not a strength—it’s irresponsibility.
The entertainment world is small, and news travels fast. If Yu continues to exhaust audience patience, the day may come when no amount of livestreamed apologies can repair the damage. For his own sake, he’d better learn to rein it in—because in an industry as turbulent as this one, those who don’t tread carefully will be swept under by the waves.
