News Update: December 28, 2025
The mainland Chinese actor Li Hongyi, who rose to fame for his role as “Xiaose” in the drama series “Youth with You,” is currently entangled in a contract dispute stemming from an 8-year agreement signed between him and “Mango Entertainment” when he was a minor. This has caught widespread attention after a court issued a “restriction on consumption order” against him, requiring him to pay a hefty sum of 11.18 million yuan (RMB).
On December 25th, a photo circulated online showing a “restriction on consumption order” issued by the Chaoyang District Court in Beijing against Li Hongyi, with Mango Entertainment Limited listed as the applicant. According to the enterprise investigation app, the case involves a contract dispute, with Li Hongyi facing an execution of around 11.18 million yuan.
The “restriction on consumption order” specifies that Li Hongyi is prohibited from engaging in non-essential high-consumption activities such as taking flights, soft-sleeper trains, or second-class cabins on ships. He is also barred from using all seats on G-series trains, spending at star-rated hotels, nightclubs, golf courses, purchasing real estate or leasing high-end office space, as well as enrolling his children in high-fee private schools or buying high-value insurance and financial products.
In response to the situation, Li Hongyi’s studio released a statement saying that the contract dispute with Mango Entertainment has been resolved by the court ruling to terminate the management contract between both parties. Li Hongyi is required to pay Mango Entertainment an additional 13.08 million yuan after already settling a portion of the amount. However, due to the high total sum, he is unable to make an immediate full payment and will pay it gradually. In the interim, Mango Entertainment initiated compulsory enforcement leading to the court-imposed consumption restrictions on Li Hongyi.
Li Hongyi took to his personal Weibo to address the matter on December 25th, stating, “I have always strictly adhered to the terms of the agreement and am actively working towards resolving any outstanding issues with the involved parties.”
The entertainment industry in mainland China has seen a surge in contractual disputes arising from excessively long-term agreements. For instance, popular female stars Zhao Lusi and Ju Jingyi’s contract termination controversies with “Galaxy Cool Entertainment” and “Silkbar Media” respectively have shocked the industry. Both artists have accused their companies of exploiting them.
Zhao Lusi, 27, recently accused Galaxy Cool Entertainment of treating her as a cash cow without providing basic professional security. The details of her contract are staggering: a binding 15-year contract, a high 70% deduction, an astronomical 400 million yuan penalty for breach of contract, even being fined 2.05 million yuan for temporarily stopping work due to illness at the end of last year.
Ju Jingyi, formerly a member of the girl group “SNH48,” has faced a contract dispute with her former agency Silkbar Media after the expiration of their 10-year contract. The dispute that began in 2024 revolves around the authenticity of a mysterious “supplementary agreement,” with both sides holding different positions and resorting to legal action.
Renowned Chinese host He Jiong shared an insight on resolving artist contract disputes on a reality show. He remarked on the stark contrast between the signing conditions in his youth, where a 5-year contract was considered excessive, compared to now where contracts typically start at 10 years, highlighting the exploitation prevalent in the industry.
The core issue behind Li Hongyi’s consumption restriction stems from his previous 8-year contract with the former talent agency Mango Entertainment. Such long-term contracts in the Chinese entertainment industry have been criticized by netizens as akin to “selling one’s soul.”
The prolonged and contentious nature of these entertainment contracts underscores the complexities and challenges faced by artists in navigating their professional relationships within the industry.