Chinese Producer Yu Zheng’s IV‑Drip Outburst Ignites Viral Meme and Defamation Lawsuit over Celebrity Scandal
The phrase “Yu Zheng was so angry he needed an IV drip” has become a viral punch‑line on China’s Weibo, turning a backstage dispute into a full‑blown internet spectacle. At the heart of the drama is Yu Zheng, the prolific screenwriter‑producer whose company, Huanyu Entertainment, manages a stable of popular actors, among them the rising star Xu Kai. The spark was lit on August 22, when Xu Lisha, an actress and self‑styled whistle‑blower, posted a series of videos and statements alleging that Xu Kai was involved in a secret romance and that his private life was being concealed by the agency.
22 August 2025
Yu Zheng’s reaction was immediate and theatrical. During a live stream that same day, the producer appeared on camera holding an intravenous drip. Although he smiled and even sang a snippet of a new song, “One Person Decorates,” his demeanor was unmistakably agitated. In a follow‑up message, Yu denounced Xu Lisha’s claims as “slander and defamation” of Huanyu’s artist Zhao Qing, announced that the company was gathering evidence, and warned that the matter would be taken to the police and the courts rather than left to public opinion.
The incident took an unexpected turn when Xu Lisha mentioned He Shengming, a veteran actor who had once been linked to Yu Zheng in what Chinese netizens call a “white moonlight” – a nostalgic term for an unrequited or first love. He Shengming’s terse reply on Weibo, “calm and composed” (气定神闲), was seized upon as a perfect foil to Yu’s apparent distress. Memes proliferated, juxtaposing the producer’s IV drip with He’s serene posture, and the hashtag #于正气到输液何晟铭气定神闲 quickly rose to the top of trending lists.
Inside Huanyu, the fallout rippled through the roster. Actresses Bai Lu and Zhao Qing, both rumored to have had past relationships with Xu Kai, found themselves inadvertently drawn into the controversy. Another Huanyu talent, Wang Xingyue, was captured on a live broadcast wiping away tears, prompting a wave of tongue‑in‑cheek speculation about whether the emotion was genuine or part of the ongoing drama.
Legal action has now become a central element of the saga. Yu’s statement that the dispute would be settled “by law, not by public opinion” was followed by a formal notice that Huanyu would file a defamation lawsuit against Xu Lisha. While the legal proceedings are still pending, the public’s fascination has not waned. Users continue to generate jokes, fan‑fiction titles such as “许你于晟” (a blend of Xu Kai’s and Yu Zheng’s names), and endless commentary on the contradictory explanations Yu offered for the IV – first calling it a “liver detox” and later a “nutrient shot,” which only added fuel to the meme fire.
The phenomenon illustrates how quickly personal grievances can become collective entertainment in China’s hyper‑connected celebrity culture. The drama intertwines three strands that resonate with netizens: the allure of insider gossip about high‑profile relationships, the larger‑than‑life persona of a producer known for his dramatic flair, and the absurdity of a public figure literally “requiring an IV” after a verbal spat. As the legal case proceeds, the phrase “Yu Zheng was so angry he needed an IV drip” is likely to remain a shorthand for the volatile mix of ego, reputation, and internet theatrics that defines modern Chinese entertainment.
