On January 3, Sina reported that Zhao Lusi had become the focus of public attention after she admitted that she had battled depression for five years and had been abused by her former employer since 2019. Zhao Lusi is currently in rest to recover health.
According to Sina, Zhao Lusi’s situation has sparked widespread discussion on social media platforms. In the space of just one week, nearly 250 trending topics about her emerged on Weibo. While many posts expressed sympathy and curiosity, particularly after Zhao Lusi revealed that she had been assaulted at the age of 21, others were malicious, mocking and critical.
Some critics have accused Zhao Lusi of exploiting his illness to gain attention, speculating that his public revelations about his health and conflicts with his management company were calculated moves. They said he intended to stop filming and leave his current agency without facing termination sanctions.
Statistics revealed that Zhao Lusi faced up to 10,000 defamatory posts in just one week. In response, Weibo management took action, deleting numerous accounts that violated the platform’s rules on online conduct.
Zhao Lusi’s health problems first attracted attention on December 28, 2024, after news broke that she had suffered a stroke and was hospitalized. The actress later confirmed her illness, revealing that she had been battling depression for five years. The buildup of stress had taken a toll on her mental and physical health, leading to her collapse on set and hospitalization on December 18.
A photo captured by fans showed Zhao Lusi in a wheelchair, looking frail, lanky, pale and in need of oxygen support. The image sparked widespread sympathy for his plight.
On December 31, 2024, Zhao Lusi published an open letter, revealing that after becoming famous with “Tiger and Rose’s Love”, she terminated the contract with her former agency. However, her former manager continued to harass her, spreading harmful rumors about her being arrogant, ignorant and manipulative, tarnishing her reputation in the industry.
The former manager also demanded a large sum of money. Even after receiving the payment, they continued to defame Zhao Lusi, leaving her deeply hurt and unable to react.
These controversies contributed to Zhao Lusi’s initial mild depression, which went undiagnosed and untreated due to his hectic schedule. Over the years, she faced additional challenges, including public scrutiny, the loss of loved ones, temporary hearing loss, severe allergies, swelling and joint pain. These challenges left her physically fragile, while worsening depression eventually led to her breakdown.
