Once hailed as a gentle and elegant “muse” of Chinese television, actress Zhou Yutong has seen her carefully built image collapse dramatically since 2024. Born in 1994, the actress has become the target of intense criticism on Chinese social media, where netizens accuse her of being rude, stingy, self-centered, and obsessed with attention. Online, she has been mockingly labeled “the most ill-mannered beauty in C-entertainment” and “pretty on the outside, ugly on the inside.”
Despite operating in an industry where even mid-tier celebrities earn enormous incomes each year, Zhou Yutong has repeatedly shocked the public with what many describe as unbelievable gift-giving behavior. According to widespread online discussions, she allegedly gave colleagues extremely cheap items some even suspected to be counterfeit while simultaneously exaggerating their value. The stark contrast between her words and actions has steadily eroded public goodwill.
One of the most talked-about incidents involved actor Wu Lei. On his birthday, Zhou reportedly gifted him a toy Ultraman watch placed inside a Rolex-style box. What further fueled outrage was that she allegedly accepted two bottles of expensive liquor in return. Netizens claimed Wu Lei initially planned to give just one bottle, but Zhou insisted on receiving two before leaving, leaving the younger actor visibly awkward.
Actor Gong Jun was also said to be caught off guard. For his birthday, Zhou allegedly gave him a framed portrait of herself. According to online accounts, she had earlier shown him several of her own photos and casually asked which one looked best, without explaining it would later become his “gift.” Afterward, she reportedly accepted a bottle of liquor worth around 7,000 yuan in return, intensifying criticism of her behavior.
The controversies did not stop there. Zhou was also accused of gifting actress Song Zuer a cheap card along with an expired membership card an act many viewers felt showed a severe lack of sincerity.
The most explosive backlash came from an incident involving Jin Chen. For Jin Chen’s birthday, Zhou allegedly gave her two Hello Kitty keychains that netizens later identified as knockoffs. While authentic versions reportedly cost between 6,000 and 8,000 yuan, the items Zhou gifted were estimated to be worth only about 20 yuan, with noticeable differences in color and stitching. The situation reportedly became even more controversial when Zhou later asked Jin Chen to give her a luxury cosmetics set in return an offer Jin Chen was said to have firmly rejected.
As these stories spread, Zhou Yutong quickly became a lightning rod for criticism, with many accusing her of embarrassing colleagues and damaging her own reputation through performative generosity and extreme frugality.
Beyond gift-related scandals, Zhou was also rumored to have been blacklisted by Ulyana Sergeenko after a controversial styling incident at a major awards event. According to entertainment bloggers, she allegedly altered a borrowed designer dress without permission to closely resemble an outfit worn by senior actress Ni Ni, raising suspicions that the move was a calculated attempt to gain attention by association. Following the incident, Ulyana Sergeenko reportedly cut ties with Zhou for violating styling etiquette.
Additionally, viewers of the variety show Divas Hit the Road 6 criticized Zhou for her on-screen behavior toward Jin Chen, accusing her of being disrespectful and invasive. One particularly controversial moment involved Zhou opening a bathroom door while Jin Chen was showering, despite knowing cameras were present an action many viewers found deeply inappropriate.
Amid mounting backlash, Zhou Yutong eventually issued an apology, admitting that her behavior had disappointed fans. She said the controversies had taken a toll on her mental health but also forced her to reflect on her shortcomings. The actress expressed hope that the public would give her another chance as she works to improve herself, though many remain skeptical as her reputation continues to face serious challenges.
Sources: K14