Behind the dazzling lights and glamorous stage, there are often struggles we don’t see. Cheng Xiao (程潇) recently opened up about her health battles on camera—her hands tremble due to autonomic nervous system disorder, and she once broke down, running through the rain, overwhelmed by bipolar disorder. In that moment, she was no longer the radiant idol on stage, but simply a person in pain.
Her honesty peeled back the glossy surface of the entertainment world, forcing us to ask: When celebrities remove their halos, what do we really see?
The Cost of Being a “Perfect Idol”: Breakdown Under Pressure
Cheng Xiao is not alone. In Korea, Sulli suffered relentless cyberbullying before her tragic death; HyunA withdrew from her group due to anxiety, saying, “No matter how bright the stage is, it means nothing when your body collapses.” In China, the sudden passing of Qiao Renliang shocked the entire nation, revealing how deeply some seemingly cheerful stars may be hurting inside.
Cheng Xiao once shared in a variety show that the relentless pace of work caused long-term insomnia, and the public pressure made her feel like “even breathing was exhausting.” Her experience echoes a line from “Fang Siqi’s First Love Paradise (《房思琪的初恋乐园》)”: “She was just sick, but the world thought she was crazy.”
Sympathy or Cynicism: The Double-Edged Sword of Public Opinion
When Cheng Xiao revealed her condition, reactions were split. Some praised her bravery, while others mocked her: “With all that money, what’s there to complain about?” This narrative is all too familiar—Zheng Shuang was called “crazy” for breaking down emotionally; Angela Zhang (张韶涵) took a break due to heart issues but was met with rumors of “plastic surgery gone wrong” upon her return.
People want stars to be flawless, yet also “real.” But when vulnerability is revealed, many simply reject it. As Nietzsche once said, “When you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.” Our harsh expectations of celebrities might just be a reflection of our own collective apathy.
Between Health and Image: When Illness Becomes a Weapon
Due to medication side effects, Cheng Xiao once appeared with a swollen face—photos were captured maliciously and used to mock her appearance. Something similar happened to Selina after her burns; instead of focusing on her resilience, media fixated on her scars.
In this era, every inch of a celebrity’s skin and every expression is magnified and dissected. Cheng Xiao’s situation evokes an episode of “Black Mirror”, where people are judged by a rating system—until the protagonist finally breaks down, crying: “I just want to be treated like a person!”
What Needs to Change?
Cheng Xiao’s courage may be a starting point. Psychology studies show that speaking openly about mental health reduces stigma. As Lady Gaga said when founding her mental health initiative: “Pain shouldn’t be hidden—it needs to be seen, and healed.”
Can we let go of our obsession with the perfect idol? Can we offer empathy instead of ridicule when stars collapse? Cheng Xiao’s story reminds us: Celebrities are human. They fall ill, they hurt, they struggle. Real support isn’t demanding perfection—it’s allowing them to be imperfect, too.
