Inside Zhao Lusi's health crisis nightmare: Hearing loss, abuse, depression and long road to recovery

Chinese actress Zhao Lusi, known for her screen presence and romantic leads in hit period dramas like The Romance Of Tiger And Rose (2020) and Hidden Love has had a long, tough battle, with her health. Over the past two years, troubling reports and emotional disclosures have painted a stark picture of an actress pushed to the edge—physically, emotionally, and psychologically.

In a lengthy social media post shared in late December 2024—days after she was seen in a wheelchair and her Weibo account was briefly shut down—Lusi broke her silence. Alongside photos of herself and her friends was an image of a weighing scale showing the 1.61m-tall actress weighing just 36kg.

She reflected on a childhood marked by physical discipline. “My teachers used to hit me for not getting good grades in school,” she revealed.

But the trauma, she said, didn’t end in her youth. “When I got older, I got hit too, and I thought it was my fault for not being able to make it through my auditions. I didn’t dare to make a scene, I just wanted to escape.”

Without naming anyone, Lusi implied that the abuse continued into her professional life, hinting that the person responsible was a woman in a position of power. “Eventually, my work became recognised by the public and, thanks to that, I gained the courage to say goodbye. But even at the end, she took a hefty ‘break-up sum’ before she was willing to stop. She made up rumours that hurt my reputation to people in and out of the industry.”

Lusi's post marked a turning point in public understanding of her long-unspoken struggles. She revealed that she had been suffering from depression since 2019, and began seeking psychological help in 2021 after her mental state started to take a toll on her physical health.

“Being depressed is a feeling, but depression is an illness. It’s not something that can be resolved simply by ‘letting it go’ or ‘talking about it’,” she wrote.

In 2023, her health continued to spiral. She battled pneumonia, hives, and hearing loss, and the deaths of loved ones added to the weight of her emotional distress.

Then, in 2024, her symptoms became more severe. She experienced frequent episodes of nausea, dizziness, and joint pain. In a sobering line, she wrote: “It is ridiculous that one has to open up and show their scars to prove that they are not just too sensitive to stress and unable to be contented with what they have.”

Rumours about Lusi’s health started gaining traction in late 2024, especially after she was spotted in a wheelchair. On December 27, her studio confirmed that she had been hospitalised on December 18, though it withheld specific details. Her Weibo account was also temporarily deactivated that same day, sparking further speculation.

Two days later, actress and friend Wei Xiao, who had starred with Lusi in The Romance Of Tiger And Rose, posted pictures of Lusi in a wheelchair on Xiaohongshu. She revealed that Zhao had lost her ability to speak at one point, but was now recovering well with rehabilitation.

On January 1, 2025, Lusi shared a video recap of her year on Douyin. The footage included hospital scenes, wheelchair clips, and moments where she was struggling to walk and eat, providing stark visual confirmation of her deteriorating health.

As Lusi’s post made waves across Chinese media, fans began speculating about the identity of her alleged abuser. Former agency head Li Wei, who founded Galaxy Cool Entertainment—the company Lusi signed with in 2016—publicly denied the accusations in a WeChat post, stating that he had not physically abused her. The agency released its own statement, claiming that Zhao’s mental and physical health had always been a top priority.

On January 2, prominent Chinese producer Yu Zheng, best known for Story Of Yanxi Palace, added fuel to the fire. In a Weibo post, he said he was being cyberbullied by Zhao’s supporters, and expressed frustration at being caught in the fray.

“What did I ever do to you? Say something. I was the one who recommended you to many people before you were ever famous and I was there to talk to you when you needed it. How is it that this mess has implicated me?” he wrote. He also tagged actress Xu Yiruo, reportedly Zhao’s former manager, adding: “Whatever mess there is between the two of you, don’t involve me.”

Xu did not respond directly, but her lawyer issued a statement the same day, denying allegations that Xu physically abused Zhao or demanded an excessive “break-up” fee. The statement also warned that legal action could be taken against those spreading false claims.

In August, Lusi posted on Weibo again, alleging financial and emotional abuse by KU Media and accusing the agency of taking money from her. Despite the difficult revelations, fans were relieved and encouraged to see her looking healthier and more cheerful. They rallied behind her as she spoke out against the agency and those who had hurt her, grateful to see signs of her recovery.