Recently, 26-year-old popular mainland Chinese actress Zhao Lusi has been speaking out on social media, accusing her talent agency “Galaxy Cool Entertainment” of demanding compensation from her when she had to cancel work due to health issues. She claimed that after she requested to terminate the contract, she was met with a cold response. On August 6, actress and producer Zhang Zhixi publicly criticized Galaxy Cool Entertainment for breach of contract in the collaborative project “Fish Offering,” alleging that they used Zhao Lusi’s name to gain investment rights but did not ultimately cast her in the project, sparking significant attention.
Zhang Zhixi, a 37-year-old producer of the series “Fish Offering” and a member of “Leaping Rabbit Film Production” company, took to Weibo on August 6 to accuse Zhao Lusi’s talent agency, Galaxy Cool Entertainment. She stated that she had presented a project she had been preparing for years to Zhao Lusi’s agency, which wanted Zhao Lusi to play the lead role. Galaxy Cool Entertainment agreed to the content but insisted that for Zhao Lusi to be cast, they must also be involved in the production. As a result, both parties signed an agreement for joint production of the project.
Zhang Zhixi accused Galaxy Cool Entertainment of not having Zhao Lusi participate in the project as agreed, changing the credits on the poster from “Producer” to “Co-producer,” and shifting the blame to the platform. Public records revealed that on August 6, a new version of the poster for “Fish Offering” downgraded Leaping Rabbit Film Production’s credit from “Producer” to “Co-producer.” Zhang Zhixi condemned this action as a breach of contract, questioning Galaxy Cool Entertainment for blaming the platform Youku and deeming the explanation of “platform regulations” unconvincing.
In a Weibo post, Zhang Zhixi disclosed that Galaxy Cool Entertainment’s producer Zhuang Beilei took the end credits poster and informed her that due to new regulations by Youku, the production company could only be listed as a “Co-producer.” Frustrated by this, Zhang Zhixi publicly shared screenshots of their conversation and called on Galaxy Cool Entertainment to rectify the situation.
“I won’t do it even if you don’t blacklist me!” On August 2, Zhao Lusi took to Weibo to expose the dark side of the entertainment industry by sharing a diagnosis of severe anxiety and depression. She accused Galaxy Cool Entertainment of exploiting artists, disregarding their mental and physical health, and spreading rumors within the industry that she was faking her illness. Zhao Lusi also revealed that the agency demanded compensation from her when she had to cancel work due to health issues, and they repeatedly refused to address the matter. In subsequent live broadcasts on different platforms, she recounted the inhumane treatment she received from the agency after falling ill, sparking widespread discussions surrounding her experiences.
The next day, Galaxy Cool Entertainment released a statement asserting that they had not engaged in any illegal or breach of contract behavior and expressed a desire to “communicate and negotiate for a resolution.” Zhao Lusi countered this with a direct response, listing eight questions challenging the agency on their actions.
Zhang Zhixi’s accusations and Zhao Lusi’s revelations resonated with many fans. Under Zhang Zhixi’s post, numerous comments praised her and Zhao Lusi for standing up against Galaxy Cool Entertainment, calling out the agency for using Zhao Lusi’s name to deceive other producers and shifting blame onto her.
Currently, “Fish Offering” is scheduled to premiere on Youku on August 16, but the controversy continues to intensify, potentially affecting the show’s viewership and industry trust. Zhang Zhixi reiterated her commitment to seeking legal rights and demanded that Galaxy Cool Entertainment restore the producer credit as per the contract and address the controversy surrounding the casting change.
Zhao Lusi has gained fame in recent years for her roles in dramas such as “Starry and Bright” and “Pearl Curtain, Jade Screen,” especially after starring in “Can’t Hide Your Secrets,” solidifying her position as one of the leading post-95 Chinese actresses. Her public confrontation with Galaxy Cool Entertainment has raised questions about her understanding of the industry’s norms, but many netizens have pushed back, stating that the exploitation by talent agencies should not be justified.