On September 11th, the news of the death of 37-year-old mainland Chinese actor Yu Menglong by falling off a building in Beijing shocked the entertainment industry. He gained immense popularity from TV dramas like “Eternal Love” and “Tribes and Empires: Storm of Prophecy,” but gradually faded from the spotlight in recent years until the sudden and tragic news broke out. Many fans lamented, “He was so popular, why did he disappear?”
The news initially surfaced on Weibo from a user named “Detective Xiaoyan” revealing details such as Yu Menglong returning to his room alone and locking the door to sleep after dining with friends on the evening of September 10th. It was also mentioned that at the time of the fall, he had two Rolex watches belonging to a friend in his pocket, and the mosquito net was open.
Yu Menglong started his career as a singer and gained recognition by winning the Beijing regional championship in the 2013 season of the talent show “Happy Boys Voice,” where he secured the 10th position nationally. Transitioning to acting, he rose to fame with his role as Prince Qi Han in “The Princess Weiyoung” in 2015 and gained further acclaim for portraying Bai Zhen in “Eternal Love” in 2017. He went on to star in series like “The Legend of White Snake” and “Love and Lost,” steadily increasing his popularity.
According to reports from “Hong Kong 01,” in 2020, Yu Menglong was put on ice by his company for three years after refusing “improper requests” from a female producer or financial backers, leading to a significant decline in his opportunities in the industry. Despite returning to work later, he found his roles greatly reduced, often being cast in minor supporting roles, unable to reach the heights of his earlier success.
In an interview, Yu Menglong once spoke about his initial reasons for moving to Beijing: “I didn’t come from a performing arts background or study acting or singing, I played the violin.” He expressed his desires to step into the limelight, but admitted to feeling frustrated and unhappy in low periods, even questioning his suitability for the industry. It wasn’t until 2023 that he returned to acting.
Records show that all of Yu Menglong’s shareholding companies were dissolved at the end of last year and in July this year. Despite occasional selfies shared on social media, fans noticed his physical deterioration and expressed concerns about his well-being. Rumors circulated about his struggles with depression, his introverted and sensitive nature, and how he tended to internalize his sadness, often crying alone at home after breakups.
Of note, Yu Menglong’s final Weibo post was on September 3rd, related to reposting news about the Communist Party leader reviewing military parade information. His last public appearance was on August 29th when he shared scenic photos and a recent selfie on social media. From the pictures, it was evident that Yu Menglong appeared visibly thinner but was in decent condition.
A netizen revealed that the night before the incident, around 9 p.m., Yu Menglong was briefly active on Weibo and even joyfully shared his thoughts on a concert experience for his 37th birthday in June. His sudden passing left fans in disbelief, with many comments expressing their sorrow, questioning why he was sidelined, and remarking on the challenges faced by individuals without influential backgrounds in the industry. The sentiment of bidding farewell but never getting the chance to see him again since being sidelined was prevalent among the grieving fans.