A shocking allegation from rising Chinese actor Zhong Yufei has sparked widespread discussion across social media after he accused a wealthy investor of abusing her position during the production of a short drama.
In a recent public statement, Zhong Yufei revealed that the investor personally selected him to play the male lead in the short drama. For the young actor, who was still trying to establish himself in the industry, the opportunity initially seemed like an important career breakthrough. However, he claimed the atmosphere on set changed dramatically once filming began.
According to Zhong Yufei, the investor continuously revised the screenplay during production, insisting that additional romantic scenes be included. Although the drama consisted of only around 50 to 60 episodes, it reportedly contained more than 60 kissing scenes. He said both the director and screenwriter repeatedly objected, arguing that the overwhelming number of intimate moments disrupted the story.
Those concerns, however, were allegedly dismissed. Because the investor was funding the production, Zhong Yufei claimed she insisted on having the final say over everything from script changes to how scenes were filmed.
Zhong Yufei explained that he initially assumed the kissing scenes would rely on camera angles or standard filming techniques. Instead, during the first day of shooting, he said the actress kissed him directly and held onto him so tightly that he could not avoid the contact. He further alleged that the actress continued making physical advances beyond what had been agreed upon in the script throughout filming.
At one point, Zhong Yufei said he had to explicitly ask his co-star not to use her tongue during kissing scenes. Despite his request, he claimed the behavior continued, adding that his lips were bitten hard enough on several occasions to leave visible injuries.
Perhaps most troubling, Zhong Yufei said the incidents occurred in full view of the director, cinematographers, and other crew members. According to him, no one intervened because the woman accused of the inappropriate conduct was also the project’s financial backer. He stated that he sought help from both the director and producers, but they admitted they were powerless to challenge the investor’s authority.
Despite feeling increasingly uncomfortable, Zhong Yufei chose to continue filming. He explained that he feared speaking out could shut down production, potentially expose him to financial penalties for breach of contract, and earn him a reputation as someone who was “difficult to work with.” As a newcomer, he worried that standing up for himself could seriously damage his future career.
The problems reportedly continued even after production wrapped. Zhong Yufei claimed the investor refused to pay the remaining 30,000 yuan (approximately US$4,200) of his salary, arguing that the drama had failed to meet commercial expectations. He added that the total unpaid compensation eventually reached 300,000 yuan (around US$42,000).
Unable to remain silent, Zhong Yufei decided to publicly share his experience alongside the project’s screenwriter. His allegations quickly went viral, prompting responses from others working in China’s rapidly growing short-drama industry. Several industry insiders claimed his experience was not unique, saying young actors often find themselves in vulnerable positions when investors hold overwhelming creative and financial control over productions. Many reportedly stay silent out of fear of losing work or harming their future prospects.
While some online commenters argued that actors should expect to perform intimate scenes as part of their profession, Zhong Yufei emphasized that he had never objected to kissing scenes that were clearly agreed upon before filming. Instead, he said his complaint concerns physical actions and intimate behavior that allegedly went beyond the original agreement and his consent.
The controversy has reignited debate over professional boundaries, consent during intimate scenes, and the need for stronger protections for actors working under significant power imbalances within the entertainment industry.
At the time of writing, the allegations remain the subject of intense public discussion, and no official investigation or legal outcome has been announced.
Sources: K14