At the tail end of 2024, fans began rallying support for renowned Chinese actress Zhao Lusi (赵露思) after reports that she was hospitalised due to overworking. The actress, who also goes by Rosy Zhao, reportedly suffered from aphasia and had trouble moving, sparking criticism towards her agency for alleged abuse.
After remaining quiet on the issue, the actress finally broke her silence, revealing the truth of her condition. Through her Weibo post dated 1st January 2025 (Wednesday), Zhao Lusi apologised to the public for causing concern with the recent reports, revealing that she had been suffering from multiple health issues over the past few years. She also admitted to having depression as early as 2019 but disregarded her diagnosis due to the comments she received.
The 26-year-old said her health issues worsened in 2023 and 2024, but she ignored her health due to her growing workload. It was also revealed that the actress was severely underweight, weighing less than 40kg. Zhao Lusi also revealed that her former boss abused her and would beat her after she failed auditions. Even after terminating her contract, the actress said her former boss demanded a hefty “termination fee” and would spread terrible rumours about her, causing her distress.
It’s believed Zhao Lusi no longer works with the former boss, thanking her family, friends and current staff for their support. Towards the end of her post, Zhao Lusi said she never wanted to publicise her illness because she feared it would be labelled a publicity stunt. However, she hopes her story can help raise awareness and urge others to prioritise their mental health. At the end of her post, she thanked the public for their concern before wishing everyone a happy new year.
The Weibo post also comes after a friend of Zhao Lusi revealed the physical, verbal and mental abuse the “The Story Of Pearl Girl” suffered under her former boss. The friend, nicknamed Tulip, said the abuse started in 2019, adding that the actress’ agency was aware of the issue but kept it under wraps. Tulip also said Zhao Lusi’s current situation was caused by her previous experiences, adding that her health deteriorated due to the abuse and overworking.
Since the revelation, netizens have dug through social media to uncover the identity of the former boss. Many suspect that Zhao Lusi’s former agent, Xu Yirao (徐以若) was the alleged abusive boss, after discovering her old posts criticising the actress. Xu Yirao has since denied the claims, saying they’re false news. She’s also looking to take legal action against netizens’ allegations.
Zhao Lusi has since shared updates on her health, revealing that she regained her motor skills after her paralysis. Her close friends also shared updates about the public figure, posting videos of her after rehabilitation. The public continues to send love to Zhao Lusi, wishing her a speedy recovery.
However, some fans are still concerned about the star’s health, urging her to leave her agency entirely, in fear her condition might worsen. Whatever happens, we wish Zhao Lusi all the best and hope she makes a full recovery as soon as possible. What are your thoughts on this situation?
Here’s a look at Zhao Lusi’s recovery progress:
@fansboyzhaolusi Ayo semangat sayangku, kamu pasti bisa bangkit 🥹❤️ #zhaolusi #zhaolusi_赵露思 #fyp #foryou
Sources: Twitter (1)(2)(3), Weibo, China Press
