Esther YuOne of the young Chinese stars is admired not only for her acting career, but also for her elegant image as a “rich and pretty girl” of an elite family.
However, that impeccable image is now questioned since Chinese social media are invaded by suspicions about the commercial relationships of his family, unleashing widespread controversies.
“Rich heir” with magnet scandal?
Born in 1995 in Shanghai, Esther Yu comes from a rich background. His grandfather was once president of the union of work in the steel industry and his father also manages a private steel company.
Yu has become famous through the survival show of the idol Youth with you 2Fascinating spectators with its extravagant humor and a direct speech. He continued to thrive in television dramas and sponsorships of the brand, maintaining a clean image and without scandals until his name has been caught in a whirlwind of investigations linked to favoritism, corruption and nepotism.
Family ties, offers and judicial orders
Recently, Chinese netizen have discovered old relationships and documents that suggest a conflict of interest: Yu’s grandfather held an influential public position in the state steel industry while the private company of his father worked in the same field. Based on the laws of the Chinese civil service, this family overlap is generally prohibited to prevent improper use of influence.
Between 2009 and 2014, according to what reported, Yu’s father’s company merged with the State Steel Enterprise, ensuring key contracts for an estimated value 1.5 billion RMB (~ $ 208 million USD). These agreements coincided with the active mandate of his grandfather, making alarm on potential advantages for insiders and indications.
The private company was dissolved in 2014 and some parties involved were subsequently investigated, although no official verdict was made public. Speculation remains: Was it a serious case of corruption swept under the carpet?
Adding to the storm, his father would have engaged Usurd loanswith records showing 50 million RMB (~ $ 7 million USD) in loans AND 13 million RMB of interestwhich led to an order of application of the Court in 2018. Another order of the similar court emerged in 2023, involving a person with the same name, feeding more doubts about the persistent financial risks in the family.
Silent response and postponed disappeared
While discussions increased online, Esther Yu has maintained the complete silence, which some fan interpret as an avoidance tactic. At the same time, the posts relating to the family scandal began to disappear from the Chinese platforms, raising suspicions of the media censorship.
So far, Yu’s reputation in the sector remains intact. But long -term implications could be series. In an era in which the public expects transparency and responsibilities from celebrities, prolonged silence could return against, especially if more details come to light.
For someone who built his brand as an innocent and scandal idol, these accusations were coming or not made a long shade. The public cannot forgive or forget easily, in particular when the privilege and ethics clash.
