Chinese actress Zhao Lusi (赵露思) accused her agency Galaxy Cool Entertainment of mistreatment and contractual betrayal via emotional social media posts, sharing chats and depression results. She claimed the agency neglected her during a December 2024 illness, causing losses, yet deducted over 2 million yuan from her studio for project disruptions, including shortening her drama Lian Ren (恋人) from 24 to 14 episodes. She declared "I quit," alleging rumors of "faking illness" and activity restrictions. Galaxy Cool implied responses aimed to protect business interests amid her volatile behavior, highlighting a deep rift.
Contract Chaos and the Burden of Proof
A central point of contention was the agency's authority to manage Zhao Lusi's finances. She expressed outrage that Galaxy Cool could "simply take money" from her studio account. However, industry norms and standard management contracts grant agencies significant control over an artist's professional earnings and expenses related to their work. The deduction likely occurred under provisions outlining shared liability for costs incurred due to artist unavailability. Galaxy Cool pointed to the legality of proportional cost-sharing as per their agreement, urging legal consultation—advice Zhao Lusi dismissed.
Zhao Lusi framed her illness as a potential work-related injury, implying Galaxy Cool should bear full financial responsibility. However, Chinese Work-Related Injury Insurance Regulations explicitly exclude mental health conditions like depression from standard coverage. Proving such a claim requires substantial evidence directly linking the illness solely or primarily to workplace conditions—evidence Zhao Lusi admitted she lacked. References to past alleged mistreatment by agency executives in 2019, while emotionally charged, were deemed legally irrelevant to the current contract dispute by observers, especially as she had chosen to renew her contract with Galaxy Cool more recently.
Her complaint about the global scope of her contract further demonstrated a misunderstanding of standard industry practice. Global representation clauses are common, covering international opportunities and preventing conflicts if an artist establishes independent ventures. This basic industry tenet being a point of confusion for someone of Zhao Lusi's experience surprised many, reinforcing perceptions of a disconnect from professional realities. Her demands, including seeking an apology and compensation from the Lian Ren production team for shutting down, were viewed as particularly unrealistic.
Communication Breakdown
The dispute laid bare a severe communication failure. Zhao Lusi accused Galaxy Cool of "cold violence" by not engaging with her demands. Yet, the agency's attempts to discuss the financial settlements and suggest legal routes constituted communication—just not yielding the outcome she desired. Her preferred mode of airing grievances involved emotionally charged, ambiguous social media posts rather than private negotiation or legal channels. This public venting, often targeting perceived slights from ordinary netizens, fueled fan outrage but complicated resolution.
Zhao Lusi and her supporters operated within a distinct logic. They interpreted the agency's management of her public image and finances as malicious control, believing promises to "handle" matters equated to assuming full financial liability. When outcomes diverged from this expectation, it fueled conspiracy theories. This perspective often ignored standard business practices and contractual language. Fan narratives oscillated between claiming she was being "frozen out" when work was scarce and "exploited" when it was abundant, showcasing a resistance to nuanced realities.
Contrasted with peers like Ju Jingyi (鞠婧祎) who navigated contract disputes through focused legal action and minimal public drama, Zhao Lusi's approach seemed counterproductive. Her public displays of distress, combined with a lavish lifestyle visible online, undermined the relatability of her plight in the current socio-economic climate. The core issue appeared less about specific grievances and more about a fundamental clash between an artist's perceived entitlements and the structured, often impersonal, demands of talent management and production finance. Her threat to "open a noodle shop" symbolized a desire for escape, yet her actions reflected an intense struggle to retain everything she currently holds within an industry she seems to fundamentally misunderstand.
The Legal Road Ahead
With Galaxy Cool Entertainment publicly severing ties by unfollowing Zhao Lusi, the path forward points inevitably towards litigation. The agency's consistent reference to legal compliance suggests confidence in their contractual position. The crux of any legal battle will be the precise terms of their management agreement regarding liability for delays, illness, financial management, and termination clauses. Galaxy Cool possesses documented communications and the contract itself. Zhao Lusi's evidence, largely comprising social media posts and unverified claims of past abuse, faces significant challenges in proving breach of contract or justifying unilateral termination without penalty.
Zhao Lusi's reluctance to formally sue, despite her vocal grievances, hints at an awareness of the weak legal standing of her public arguments. Contract disputes in the entertainment industry, while complex, often hinge on clear documentation of obligations and breaches. Emotional distress claims, especially concerning depression, require extraordinary proof of causation directly attributable to the agency's actions within the relevant timeframe. Her admission of lacking concrete evidence for past incidents further weakens potential counterclaims.
The outcome will likely hinge on cold contractual interpretation rather than the court of public opinion Zhao Lusi has been playing to. If she wishes to exit Galaxy Cool before her reported 2030 contract end date, the financial cost of buying out her contract will be substantial. Alternatively, weathering the remaining years under a strained relationship seems fraught with difficulty. This public meltdown, regardless of the legal verdict, has already exacted a toll on her professional reputation, revealing a star struggling to navigate the complexities of the industry that made her famous. The resolution, when it comes, will be defined by legal paragraphs, not social media posts.
