Chinese Actress Zhao Lusi’s Photo in Wheelchair Sparks Concerns
Chinese actress Zhao Lusi’s popularity has been on the rise, but on the 27th she was caught in a storm after a photo of her being wheeled into a hospital surfaced. There have been rumors linking her illness to the filming of the drama “The Lover.” While Zhao Lusi’s father recently assured fans of her well-being, he did not disclose the reason for her illness. Well-known paparazzo Liu Dachui revealed that Zhao Lusi experienced unfair treatment on set and even encountered a “double-faced script.”
The viral image of the 26-year-old Zhao Lusi sitting in a wheelchair and weakly receiving medical treatment on Weibo shocked many. In the video, Zhao Lusi’s head was resting weakly on her shoulders, her body curled up, her face pale, and a tube inserted in her nose, indicating a severe condition. Entertainment blogger “Eight-Circle Li Yuanfang” relayed information from insiders revealing that Zhao Lusi is suffering from a nervous system disorder, rendering her unable to speak or walk.
Zhao Lusi’s studio only confirmed that she suddenly fell ill and sought medical treatment promptly, currently undergoing treatment and rest, but did not disclose the specifics of her condition. At the same time, Zhao Lusi’s personal Weibo account was suddenly blocked for unknown reasons, sparking anger among some fans.
After several days of speculation, Zhao Lusi’s close friend and fellow actress Wei Xiao reassured fans in a post, mentioning that Zhao Lusi can now “slowly speak and begin standing up for rehabilitation training.” The post also mentioned “aphasia symptoms,” continuing to worry the public. As for the cause of Zhao Lusi’s illness, Wei Xiao posted on Xiaohongshu: “Regarding the illness, regarding the truth, so far, it shouldn’t be me as a friend telling everyone what exactly happened, nor should it be Lusi revealing these things, hoping someone will take responsibility and explain.” This seemed to hint at underlying issues in the incident.
Reports stated that Zhao Lusi, standing at 160 cm tall, has seen her weight drop sharply to 38 kg, with her bones clearly visible, while she was experiencing health problems during the filming of the new drama “The Lover.” Liu Dachui, a renowned paparazzo, once revealed that Zhao Lusi faced unfair treatment on set, encountering a “double-faced script.” She felt that something was amiss during filming, as the script differed from what was initially presented. Despite her efforts to have the script adjusted back to its original version with the director’s help, the issue remained unresolved. The producer and director of the set, who are also a married couple, remained aligned, frustrating Zhao Lusi’s efforts repeatedly. Eventually, she had no choice but to press on with the filming, yet the immense pressure took a toll on her mental health, leading to severe depression.
Information showed that the drama director Deng Ke has directed several well-known TV dramas like “With Feng” and “The Son-in-Law.” However, some of Zhao Lusi’s fans disclosed that during the filming of “The Lover,” Deng Ke was frequently absent, causing delays in production, with most shots completed by another director with the surname Gao. However, some explained that well-known directors often collaborate with their apprentices, letting the apprentice direct and putting their name on it, considering it a common practice in the industry.
In response to Zhao Lusi’s illness incident, renowned mainland producer Yu Zheng stated: “The entertainment industry is a large playground and one must not take things too seriously; being too serious results in losing oneself.” He added, “While working hard, enjoy the happiness that work brings, not attaching too much importance to the outcome or caring too much about others’ opinions. Prioritize your health, and learn to reward yourself with the results of your work.” However, his remarks sparked controversy, with some even calling out to him not to exploit Zhao Lusi. The online atmosphere was tense.
So far, neither Zhao Lusi’s studio nor the drama crew has provided a full explanation or officially disclosed Zhao Lusi’s illness. Furthermore, the introduction on director Deng Ke’s Xiaohongshu page was discovered to have been changed from “has directed ‘The Lover,’ ‘Curl,’ ‘The Imperial Coroner,’ ‘With Feng,'” to “May the world be at peace,” seemingly indirectly responding to the recent controversy.