The phrase “no snowflake is truly pure” has perhaps never been more apt than it was for Chinese entertainment in 2025. Widely described as a year of reckoning, the industry underwent a sweeping purge of scandals, revealing alarming stories of misconduct, ethical breaches, legal violations, and public fallouts. Established stars saw carefully constructed images crumble as controversies tore through their careers none more explosive than the sensitive nude photo scandal involving Esther Yu that shocked the C‑Biz world late in the year.
Among the high‑profile incidents, Zhao Lusi became a topic of heated discussion earlier in the year after publicly sharing her struggle with depression. The young actress also alleged extreme psychological mistreatment in the past by senior management at her agency, including humiliation and two hours of emotional torment in a bathroom in 2019. While Zhao’s candid revelations initially drew sympathy, ongoing complaints and her decision to document her mental health struggles in reality programming ultimately led to backlash and calls for boycott.
As tensions escalated, Zhao Lusi and her management company Galaxy Cool Entertainment publicly clashed. She accused the company of unreasonable deductions, oppressive contracts, and threats of “cancel culture” tactics designed to ruin her career. The dispute complicated her contractual situation, reportedly leaving more than four years on her contract that would require a costly exit fee. Galaxy Cool Entertainment denied all allegations, calling for clearer communication and urging Zhao to avoid misleading public statements. Zhao responded by criticizing the agency as “insincere” and indicated her intent to take legal action with supporting evidence.
Just as that contract dispute was still unresolved, Zhao faced further public scrutiny over allegations she exploited agricultural relief efforts for personal gain though she was later exonerated. By late 2025, Zhao managed to rehabilitate her public image somewhat and reclaim her spotlight, but not without enduring months of intense controversy.
Equally tumultuous was the case of Li Mingde, whose disruptive livestreams and online accusations against fellow stars set social media ablaze. Li alleged workplace abuses by senior actor Ma Tianyu and claimed he had been unfairly sidelined, only to find his own behavior undercut his credibility. In early 2025, Li was arrested and sentenced to six months in prison for public disorder and property damage, as well as ordered to pay financial compensation, effectively ending his presence in mainstream entertainment. Under Chinese media regulations, artists with criminal records are permanently blacklisted from the industry.
The most sensational scandal, however, centered on Esther Yu. In late August, her conduct toward colleagues was publicly questioned following a viral surge of social media criticism. The controversy deepened when actress Zhang Haoyue accused Yu of bullying and harassment, claiming it had led to severe psychological distress. But the situation escalated even further when allegations emerged that Yu’s family business was involved in massive financial misconduct, including embezzlement of funds, tax evasion, and illegal commercial enterprises. Her father was also accused of predatory lending with exorbitant interest rates, drawing severe public condemnation.
Major sponsors, television networks, and film productions swiftly dropped partnerships with Yu. While she later reappeared at overseas events, her domestic reputation remained irreparably damaged. A recent broadcast of her drama “Speed and Love” did little to restore her image and instead sparked renewed criticism. Most damaging of all was the widespread circulation of her intimate photos online leading to public demands for her permanent ban from Chinese media platforms.
The cascade of scandals continued with other notable figures: Xu Kai faced accusations of infidelity and inappropriate behavior toward multiple women, and allegations of hosting illegal gambling gatherings further tarnished his reputation. Mid‑February saw Darren Wang under investigation for allegedly falsifying medical records to dodge compulsory military service a probe that evolved into a separate criminal case involving intentional injury and unlawful conduct. Wang, released on bail under strict surveillance, now faces severe legal consequences while being barred from traveling abroad.
The military service evasion case uncovered a broader criminal network involving falsified documentation for entertainers, drawing in nearly 50 male celebrities, including several high‑profile names. Prosecutors have charged many with violating military service laws and criminal forgery, carrying potential prison sentences of up to seven years. Social media users remarked wryly that the entertainment industry was becoming “a miniature prison.”
Beyond those headline scandals, C‑Biz was rocked by numerous other controversies, including accusations against Zhang Songwen for alleged abuse of a former girlfriend, Lu Han facing social media restrictions over unbecoming public behavior, Lee Wei investigated for a murder allegation, Cui Manli temporarily detained over drunk driving claims, and Zheng Jifeng prosecuted for exploiting his position to sexually abuse minors.
Overall, 2025 marked one of the darkest, most chaotic years for Chinese entertainment as scandals erupted one after another, forever altering the industry and public expectations of celebrity conduct.
Sources: K14