Daniel Zhou, the 1.88 m tall heartthrob of Produce Camp 2021, has quickly become popular thanks to his on-screen chemistry with Michelle Chen in Sniper Butterfly. Nicknamed “Red Boy” by fans and the media, Zhou’s real-life connection with the 19-year-old actress has added further excitement to his growing fame. Naturally, fans expected to see him on the red carpet during major year-end events.
However, Zhou was noticeably absent from the lineup of the prestigious Tencent Video All Star Night 2025, leaving fans disappointed and wondering why. The response came quickly and bluntly from his manager and mentor, the controversial director Yu Zheng, who declared that Zhou would not be allowed to participate.
This came as a shock, especially considering Yu Zheng’s past support for Zhou. The same director who once confidently stated, “Daniel Zhou will be the most famous male actor in C-ent next year,” now seems to have put obstacles in the actor’s path.
Yu Zheng explained that Zhou is currently filming Shadows of Desire, a small-scale, low-budget project. Letting him leave for a day would halt production and lead to financial losses of tens of millions of yuan. Unless event organizers, like those behind iQIYI Scream Night, are willing to cover losses, he said he would not approve Zhou’s participation in events.
His comments inadvertently highlighted a little-known reality in Chinese entertainment: Red carpet appearances often involve financial negotiations. Some platforms reportedly offer compensation to cover costs related to halting film production, using star appearances to fuel advertising and marketing efforts. In return, stars enjoy the spotlight and increase their commercial value – a win-win for everyone.
For example, following her participation in the iQIYI Scream Night, actress Zhou Dongyu reportedly saw her fee for participating in the event go from 300,000 yuan to 500,000 yuan.
Now that Daniel Zhou has been dropped from the Tencent Video All Star Night, fans accuse Yu Zheng of sacrificing the young actor’s opportunities for financial reasons, potentially stalling his momentum during a crucial stage of growth.
Many also point out that other actors manage to participate in such events without interrupting filming. Production teams often reschedule shoots to give actors time off for high-profile events – an effective strategy for promoting their ongoing projects.
Insiders have revealed that some production companies are now adding specific clauses to contracts that require film crews to allow artists to participate in major annual events hosted by major platforms. This ensures visibility for artists and avoids future appearance controversies.
Sources: kenh14
