Ex‑Girlfriend’s Weibo Allegations Ignite Industry‑Wide Feud Between Actor Xu Kai and Producer Yu Zheng

The story first entered the public eye in August 2022, when Xu Lisha posted a detailed Weibo entry announcing that she and Xu Kai had broken up after she discovered he had been “photographed with Zhao Qing.” The post, punctuated by the hashtag #许荔莎22年因赵晴被拍和许凯分手, sparked a wave of commentary that ranged from surprise at her candor—“这姐也是刚直接这么明晃晃的说出来了”—to skepticism about her motives and language skills. Fans of Xu Kai’s current drama “Ziye Gui” (子夜归) were quick to question whether the timing of the accusations was intended to sabotage the show’s success, with some lamenting, “我们剧粉做错了什么你非要这个时候说呢…”.

In the months that followed, Xu Lisha escalated her campaign, publishing a second, longer Weibo thread that included screenshots of private messages, alleged dates of infidelity, and a litany of accusations that Xu Kai had been involved with multiple women, including a “new girlfriend” from a drama he was filming in early 2023. The posts also introduced a new element: a direct challenge to Yu Zheng, the producer behind many of Xu Kai’s recent projects. Xu Lisha’s hashtag #许荔莎我以后缠着于正了# (“I will pester Yu Zheng from now on”) signaled an intention to hold the producer accountable for what she described as a “dark moonlight” (黑月光) of manipulation and cover‑up.

Yu Zheng’s involvement quickly turned the personal dispute into an industry‑wide controversy. In response to the flood of allegations, Yu Zheng posted a brief statement on Weibo, dismissing the claims as “黑月光” (a problematic, shadowy figure) and defending his artist, insisting that “那是黑月光!”—a cryptic phrase that many interpreted as a rebuke of Xu Lisha’s accusations. The producer’s past reputation for fiercely protecting his talent, exemplified by references to “hard‑ganging sister‑in‑law for Kaikai” and “cannot forget his white moonlight He Shengming,” added a layer of intrigue for observers who saw the dispute as a test of his crisis‑management muscle.

The backlash against Xu Lisha has not been limited to online commentary. Xu Kai’s management team issued a statement confirming that the actor is single, a move that both acknowledges the rumors and attempts to distance him from the alleged “cold violence” that Xu Lisha claimed he had inflicted on her during the summer of 2023. Moreover, reports surfaced that Xu Kai has filed a police report, a step that underscores the seriousness with which his camp views the public allegations. Xu Lisha, for her part, has hinted that she may also involve law enforcement, suggesting that the feud could soon become a legal battle rather than a purely social‑media spectacle.

The net reaction on Weibo has been a kaleidoscope of emotions. Some users celebrate Xu Lisha’s “golden phrases” and label her the “most entertaining ex‑girlfriend,” reveling in the drama as a “melon storm” (瓜田风暴) of juicy gossip. Others, particularly female users who have shared similar experiences of being sidelined by powerful men in the entertainment world, have used the episode to discuss broader gender dynamics, coining terms like “黑寡妇” (Black Widow) to describe women who are vilified for speaking out. A handful of “big bloggers” have amplified the story, noting that the timing of the accusations—just as “Ziye Gui” is climbing the ratings—suggests a strategic attempt to generate traffic, a practice that has become commonplace in China’s star‑system.

Beyond the personal narratives, the Xu Lisha‑Xu Kai dispute illustrates a shifting landscape for China’s entertainment industry. High‑profile scandals now have immediate, measurable impacts on celebrity branding and endorsement potential. An actor’s involvement in a public feud can jeopardize not only his own marketability but also the commercial prospects of the projects he is attached to; advertisers and streaming platforms are forced to weigh the risk of association against the potential for heightened visibility. The episode also highlights the growing expectation among Chinese netizens that public figures be held accountable for their private conduct, blurring the line between personal morality and professional reputation.

Producers like Yu Zheng are forced to navigate a delicate balance between protecting their talent and maintaining a veneer of transparency. His swift public rebuttal demonstrates how agencies may intervene to shape narratives, yet the very act of doing so can fuel further speculation, as fans dissect every word for hidden meanings. The “traffic first” mentality—where any controversy, even negative, is leveraged for clicks—means that the industry may inadvertently prioritize virality over factual resolution, a dynamic that can erode trust in both media coverage and official statements.

For Chinese society at large, the episode underscores the power of social media platforms such as Weibo to dictate the pace and tone of public discourse. In a media environment where the state maintains tight oversight of cultural content, viral scandals can prompt calls for stricter regulation or moral campaigns aimed at “cleaning up” the entertainment sector. While the government has not directly intervened in this case, the broader narrative aligns with ongoing political efforts to promote traditional values and curb perceived moral decay, a message that could be amplified if the scandal is framed as a cautionary tale about the excesses of celebrity culture.

In the coming weeks, the focus will shift from the torrent of online commentary to the outcomes of the police investigations and any potential court filings. Whether Xu Lisha’s accusations will be substantiated, dismissed, or remain mired in a stalemate will determine the lasting impact on Xu Kai’s career, Yu Zheng’s reputation, and the public’s appetite for similar exposés. For now, the story serves as a vivid illustration of how personal relationships, social media dynamics, and industry power structures intersect in contemporary Chinese pop culture, turning a private breakup into a national conversation that reverberates far beyond the walls of a Weibo feed.