“Why didn’t anyone tell me sooner?” Zhao Lusi joked in a recent reply to fans who pointed out her mistake—an amusing blunder that may have led to one of the quirkiest social media trends of the year.
Chinese actress Zhao Lusi unexpectedly set off a new “bad luck cleansing” craze when she changed her Douyin profile photo to a bunch of pomelo leaves—or so she thought.
In reality, fans quickly noticed that the leaves in her avatar resembled lemon or orange leaves, not actual pomelo. After fans informed her, Zhao Lusi playfully admitted the mix-up and promptly switched to the correct pomelo leaves, reinforcing her lighthearted belief in their ability to ward off misfortune.
This seemingly innocent move took on a deeper meaning in the context of Zhao Lusi’s turbulent year. In August 2025, the actress publicly accused her agency, Galaxy Cool Entertainment, of financial misconduct and threats of blacklisting, prompting widespread industry concern. By November, Zhao had terminated her contract and was rebuilding her career independently.
Amid this period of uncertainty, Zhao’s use of pomelo leaves—a traditional Southeast Asian symbol of spiritual cleansing—struck a chord with many. Fans rallied behind her, changing their own profile pictures to pomelo leaves in solidarity and in hopes of channeling her renewed luck.
Sources: Netizenbuzz
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