Recently, Esther Yu has shifted much of her activity abroad, using international appearances, fashion events, and brand engagements to maintain visibility. This strategy of creating presence overseas serves as a form of reverse publicity, keeping her name active even as her domestic situation becomes more complex. In contrast to earlier years of high-profile promotion, the local entertainment industry has noticeably toned down its messaging about her. Many of her previously arranged domestic engagements have been postponed or reassigned to others over the past two months, leading to speculation about the next phase of her career.
Even so, major platforms have not withdrawn their expectations entirely. Despite losing over three million followers, she still maintains a massive fanbase of more than twenty million—an influence level that remains highly valuable. Since backing a top-tier actress requires significant capital investment, stakeholders seldom abandon an artist unless there is no remaining potential for recovery. As long as the foundational audience persists, there is still room for her commercial value to rebound.
A comparable situation can be observed with Zhao Lusi, who is navigating similar uncertainties. Both actresses are at pivotal points where their standing in the industry is subject to reevaluation. The competitive nature of the Chinese entertainment landscape leaves little margin for stagnation, and their ability to regain previous momentum will depend not only on capital support but also on the emergence of new hit works or notable market performance. Whether Esther Yu’s overseas strategy will translate into renewed domestic strength remains a key point of industry attention.
