Chinese actress Esther Yu Shuxin is facing a major setback in her career as her latest single “Dream” (梦), released in early November, failed to revive its tarnished image. According to QQ, despite marking the ninth anniversary of its debut, the release was met with indifference and, worse, a mass loss of followers. The actress reports it lost over 160,000 followers in a single dayreflecting how its reputation continues to suffer from a spate of recent controversies.
While “Dream” was meant to celebrate his journey in the entertainment industry, many netizens expressed the frustration that Yu has he remained silent about bullying allegations against his co-stars, instead of publicly addressing the issue. Her silence has only fueled further disappointment, with former fans accusing her of trying to wait out the scandal rather than take responsibility.
According to QQ, Esther Yu and fellow actress Zhao Lusi were once seen as the two most promising post-1995 stars in Chinese entertainment, both enjoying great success and strong fan bases. However, while Zhao Lusi faced legal disputes with his former agency, Yu Shuxin’s downfall stemmed from multiple accusations of arrogance and misconduct towards colleagues.
Actress Zhang Haoyue had previously accused Yu of bullying and ostracizing her during the variety show “Freshman.” Actor Zhao Zhiwei also weighed in, claiming that Yu’s suggestive comments led to him being vilified online as an unfaithful man for eight years, severely damaging his career. Zhao denied ever having a romantic relationship with Yu.
Old footage of Yu has resurfaced, showing moments where she supposedly co-stars mocked or interrupted such as Ding Yuxi, Dylan Wang, Zhu Xudan and Xu Kai. Netizens criticized her for this being self-centered, dismissive and disrespectful towards senior artists like A Yun Ga and Fan Wei.
Adding to his problems, Yu also faced scrutiny over his family’s financial scandals. Her parents were reportedly listed as debtors with spending restrictions, yet Yu was spotted purchasing luxury handbags. Although he has publicly distanced himself from his family’s affairs, public sympathy remains low.
The situation worsened in September, when CCTV-affiliated media deleted numerous posts about Yu, signaling his partial inclusion in the Chinese entertainment industry’s blacklist. Many of his brand partnerships and scheduled live streams have been cancelled, as has his upcoming drama “A thought from Jiangnan” he was suspended indefinitely.
Once hailed as the cheerful “princess of C-pop,” Esther Yu now finds herself labeled as one of “the most unpleasant actresses” in the sector. With his fan base in decline and his public image at an all-time low, observers say his future in entertainment depends on his ability to face controversies head-on and rebuild trust with the public.
