Top Chinese Actress Zhao Lusi Claims Talent Agency Forced Exorcism To 'Treat' Her Depression

Last Updated:August 16, 2025, 22:18 IST

In a viral video statement, she alleges that rather than being taken to a hospital for depression, she was locked in a hotel room and subjected to an exorcism

The 26‑year‑old starred in popular series like 'The Romance of Tiger and Rose,' and 'Hidden Love.' (Image via Instagram)

Top Chinese actress Zhao Lusi, also known as Rosy Zhao, has claimed that her talent agency forced her to undergo an exorcism instead of providing medical help for her depression.

In a viral video statement, she alleges that rather than being taken to a hospital for depression, she was locked in a hotel room and subjected to an exorcism.

“I was sick," she says in the video, “and instead of taking me to see a doctor, you locked me in a hotel and called a master to exorcise me, saying someone had put a curse on me."

The 26‑year‑old starred in popular series like ‘The Romance of Tiger and Rose,’ and ‘Hidden Love,’ rising to fame since her debut on the variety show Mars Intelligence Agency in 2016.

In December last year, she fell ill due to depression and had to halt her work commitments.

She had accused the company of verbal and physical abuse. Zhao’s friend had also alleged that in 2019—at around 2 am—Zhao was reprimanded for hours in a bathroom by her boss after failing an audition. The agency, Tianjin Galaxy Cool Entertainment Culture Media Co. Ltd, has denied these claims.

Zhao briefly returned to work three months later via a reality show titled ‘Be Myself,’ in which she visited rural communities and spoke openly about her poor health, sleep deprivation, and depression.

However, she faced criticism for appearing dismissive of villagers’ hardships, criticism she attributes to her agency’s direction and claims that they spread rumours of her faking illness.

Zhao later shared her medical diagnoses confirming severe anxiety and depression. She said that when she developed physical symptoms associated with her mental health, the company failed to seek medical help. Instead, they confined her to a hotel room and summoned a shaman to perform an exorcism, claiming an “evil spell" had been cast on her.

Earlier this month, Zhao had also accused the agency of financial misconduct: withdrawing 2.05 million yuan from her studio’s account without permission and refusing to cover losses from canceled endorsements when her health failed in 2024.

She had alleged they threatened to blacklist her professionally if she sought legal recourse or made the dispute public. The agency, responding via Weibo, denied wrongdoing and urged her to avoid misleading statements.

Zhao reposted their response with a counter‑statement, accusing the agency of abandoning her during her most vulnerable period. Her allegations have ignited widespread debate online about abuse, mental health stigma, and the darker side of the Chinese entertainment industry.

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