Once acclaimed as gentle and elegant “muse” of Chinese television, actress Zhou Yutong has seen her carefully constructed image collapse dramatically since 2024. Born in 1994, the actress has become the target of intense criticism on Chinese social media, where netizens accuse her of being rude, stingy, self-centered and obsessed with attention. She was mockingly labeled online “the rudest beauty in entertainment C” AND “beautiful on the outside, ugly on the inside”.
Despite operating in an industry where even mid-level celebrities earn huge incomes every year, Zhou Yutong has repeatedly shocked the public with what many describe as incredible gift-giving behavior. According to widespread online discussions, he gave colleagues extremely cheap items, some even suspected of being counterfeit, while simultaneously exaggerating their value. The stark contrast between his words and actions has steadily eroded public goodwill.
One of the most talked about incidents involved actor Wu Lei. For his birthday, Zhou reportedly gave him a toy Ultraman watch placed inside a Rolex style box. What further fueled the outrage was the fact that she allegedly accepted two bottles of expensive liquor in exchange. Netizens claimed that Wu Lei initially planned to only give one bottle, but Zhou insisted on receiving two before leaving, leaving the younger actor visibly uncomfortable.
Actor Gong Jun was also said to have been caught by surprise. For his birthday, Zhou would give him a framed portrait of himself. According to online reports, she had previously shown him several photos of herself and casually asked him which was the best, without explaining that it would then become his. “gift.” He later reportedly accepted a bottle of liquor worth around 7,000 yuan in exchange, escalating criticism of his behavior.
The controversies didn’t stop there. Zhou was also accused of giving actress Song Zuer a cheap card along with an expired membership card, an act that many viewers felt showed a serious lack of sincerity.
The most explosive reaction came from an incident involving Jin Chen. For Jin Chen’s birthday, Zhou allegedly gave her two Hello Kitty keychains which netizens later identified as imitations. While authentic versions reportedly cost between 6,000 and 8,000 yuan, the items given away by Zhou are estimated to be worth only around 20 yuan, with notable differences in color and stitching. The situation reportedly became even more contentious when Zhou later asked Jin Chen to give her a set of luxury cosmetics in exchange, an offer that Jin Chen would staunchly refuse.
As these stories spread, Zhou Yutong quickly became a lightning rod for criticism, with many accusing her of embarrassing colleagues and damaging her own reputation through generosity and extreme frugality.
Beyond the gift scandals, Zhou is also said to have been blacklisted by Ulyana Sergeenko after a controversial styling incident at a major awards event. According to entertainment bloggers, she allegedly altered a designer dress borrowed without permission to closely resemble an outfit worn by senior actress Ni Ni, raising suspicions that the move was a calculated attempt to gain attention by association. Following the incident, Ulyana Sergeenko reportedly cut ties with Zhou for violating stylistic etiquette.
Also, the viewers of the variety show The divas hit the road 6 criticized Zhou for her on-screen behavior towards Jin Chen, accusing her of being disrespectful and invasive. One particularly controversial moment involved Zhou opening the bathroom door while Jin Chen was taking a shower, despite knowing the cameras were present, an action that many viewers found deeply inappropriate.
Amid growing backlash, Zhou Yutong eventually apologized, admitting that her behavior had disappointed fans. She said the controversies have taken a toll on her mental health, but have also forced her to reflect on her shortcomings. The actress has expressed hope that audiences will give her another chance as she works to better herself, although many remain skeptical as her reputation continues to face serious challenges.
Sources: K14
