Chinese actress Zhang Yuqi is facing a dramatic fall as television networks and brands have begun cutting ties with her following a personal scandal, effectively erasing her presence from major platforms. Despite remaining silent amid mounting accusations from MC Ge Xiaoqian, businessman Yuan Ba Yuan’s ex-wife, broadcasters and business partners have taken decisive action to block the star’s ongoing entertainment activities.
Since January 24, Ge Xiaoqian has publicly criticized Liaoning Television for inviting Zhang Yuqi to perform in its year-end gala show. She also released alleged police findings that two lawyers linked to Zhang Yuqi had called her with threatening messages, an allegation that intensified public backlash.
Additionally, Ge alleges that Zhang Yuqi violated Chinese law by using a surrogate mother, noting inconsistencies in the reported birth dates of her children. According to her claims, only one of Zhang Yuqi’s children was biologically hers, while the other was born via paid surrogacy, a practice banned in China as it is seen as exploiting women’s bodies.
Faced with widespread public outrage, Liaoning Television reportedly canceled Zhang Yuqi’s scheduled show. Meanwhile, numerous cosmetics brands she had collaborated with, including SheSiYa, NEXXUS, Yu Rong Chu and GuYu, made her promotional videos and images private. Reports also suggest that she has been removed as a permanent cast member of the show Sisters’ Who Sleuth 3.
Zhang Yuqi’s reputation has plummeted online as social media users reevaluate her career and criticize her past personal behavior as indicative of a pattern of contentious relationships and poor judgment. Despite previous acclaim and industry support, he now faces a harsh public reckoning.
Born in 1987, Zhang Yuqi rose to fame with the support of Hong Kong comedy legend Stephen Chow, appearing in the film CJ7. Her delicate beauty and resemblance to Korean star Song Hye-kyo have earned her the nickname “China’s Song Hye-kyo”, helping to raise her profile.
His personal life was tumultuous. Zhang had previously dated Beijing socialite Wang Xiaofei, whose failure to support his contract takeover led to public controversy. She later became involved with director Wang Quan’an, who was 21 years her senior; this caused friction with Stephen Chow’s management and even led to lawsuits. After the divorce, she quickly married businessman Yuan Ba Yuan after just 70 days of dating, a short-lived union marked by conflict, including an incident that reportedly involved a domestic violence complaint.
Footage later surfaced purportedly showing a clandestine meeting between Zhang Yuqi and Yuan Ba Yuan while he was still married to Ge Xiaoqian, adding fuel to the controversy. Following that divorce, Zhang candidly said, “I have no eye for men.”
Since then, Zhang has had high-profile relationships, including with violinist Li Bingxi, actor Yu Shi and CBA basketball player Liu Ziqi. Critics and viewers called for her to be banned from television, arguing that as a public figure she failed to uphold basic ethical standards and failed to contribute positive social influence.
As her professional and personal controversies continue to unfold, Zhang Yuqi’s position in the entertainment industry remains deeply uncertain.
Sources: TP
