Zhao Lusi: Health, Lawsuit, and Wheelchair Video Explained

For millions of followers who have watched Zhao Lusi light up Chinese romantic comedies, the past few months have been jarring, between a December 2024 hospitalization that landed her in a wheelchair and a legal battle with her own management agency. Here is a fact-based look at what we know — and what remains unconfirmed — about her health crisis, the lawsuit that followed, and the questions her fans are still asking.

Born: November 9, 1998 · Hometown: Chengdu, Sichuan, China · Known for: The Romance of Tiger and Rose, Love Like the Galaxy · Instagram followers: 7 million · Recent event: Hospitalization in late 2024

Here is a snapshot of Zhao Lusi’s personal details.

What has happened to Zhao Lusi?

For context, Zhao Lusi’s recent troubles are two distinct but interconnected stories: a severe health episode in late 2024, and a legal confrontation with her management agency that emerged in mid-2025. Both have played out largely on social media, where the actress has shared her side directly with fans.

Hospitalization in late 2024

On December 27, 2024, Zhao Lusi’s studio confirmed that she had been admitted to hospital on December 18, and that her Weibo account was temporarily deactivated the same day, triggering widespread concern (Gulf News).

Wheelchair sighting and video

A wheelchair image of Zhao Lusi began circulating online shortly afterward (CNA Lifestyle). In a January 1, 2025 Douyin recap video, she showed herself in a wheelchair and struggling with basic movements, including walking and eating (Gulf News).

Agency lawsuit details

On August 2, 2025, Zhao Lusi accused her agency, Galaxy Cool Entertainment, of withdrawing 2.05 million yuan from her studio account without authorization, and of subjecting her to threats and emotional abuse (CNA Lifestyle). The agency responded on August 3 with a Weibo statement denying any illegal or contractual breach; she reposted and refuted their statement the same day (CNA Lifestyle).

The implication: Zhao Lusi’s health and legal battles are distinct but publicly intertwined, and neither has reached resolution.

Why is Zhao Lusi in a wheelchair?

The wheelchair footage became a defining image of her health crisis, but the direct cause has not been confirmed by any medical authority.

Video explanation

In the January 1, 2025 Douyin recap, Zhao Lusi included hospital-bed scenes and wheelchair clips, making clear that the wheelchair use was part of her recovery from an undisclosed condition (Gulf News).

Health condition speculation

Without an official diagnosis, fans have speculated about stress-induced physical collapse, severe vitamin deficiency, or a neurological episode. Zhao Lusi herself mentioned a cluster of symptoms — pneumonia, hearing loss, hives, nausea, neck pain, dizziness, and joint pain — in her public statements (CNA Lifestyle).

Official statements

Neither Zhao Lusi nor her representatives have released a medical report. Her studio limited its comment to confirming the hospitalisation date and asking for privacy.

What this means: Until a diagnosis is released, the wheelchair footage will continue to fuel speculation.

What sickness is Zhao Lusi suffering from?

No single condition has been named. Zhao Lusi has described her symptoms in a January 1, 2025 video: pneumonia, partial hearing loss, hives, nausea, neck pain, dizziness, and joint pain (CNA Lifestyle). She also stated she had been struggling with depression since 2019 (CNA Lifestyle). Gulf News reported that her health problems had been developing for several years and worsened in 2024 (Gulf News).

The pattern: Zhao Lusi’s self-reported symptoms are extensive but not medically verified, leaving fans and media to piece together the picture.

Why does Zhao Lusi look so different?

Some online commenters have remarked that Zhao Lusi’s appearance in recent videos and photos appears different from her earlier roles. Several explanations are plausible.

• Weight and health fluctuations: A serious illness that included pneumonia and reduced mobility can change facial fullness and muscle tone.
• Styling and makeup: Dramatic differences in makeup style, hair, and lens filters are common across Chinese celebrity photo sets and can create a very different look.
• Natural aging: Zhao Lusi turned 26 in 2024; some subtle facial changes are expected.

There is no evidence of cosmetic surgery — neither confirmed by Zhao Lusi nor reported by any editorial source. The speculation appears driven largely by low-resolution viral images and side-by-side comparisons on social platforms.

What is the Zhao Lusi lawsuit?

The legal dispute centres on allegations Zhao Lusi made against her management agency, Galaxy Cool Entertainment (also referred to as KU Media in some reports).

• On August 2, 2025, she posted on Weibo that the agency had withdrawn 2.05 million yuan from her studio account without her consent (CNA Lifestyle).
• She further alleged that the agency had threatened her safety and failed to support her during her health crisis (CNA Lifestyle).
• On August 3, Galaxy Cool Entertainment issued a Weibo statement expressing shock and denying all allegations. Zhao Lusi reposted it and refuted it point by point (CNA Lifestyle).
• No court has yet issued a ruling. The case is ongoing.

The pattern: This lawsuit could set a precedent for young Chinese stars challenging management agencies.

Who is Zhao Lusi going to marry?

Rumours that Zhao Lusi is planning to marry actor Chen Zheyuan in 2026 have circulated on fan forums, but no official confirmation exists from either party.

• Chen Zheyuan is a Chinese actor who co-starred with Zhao Lusi in the 2022 historical drama Love Like the Galaxy. Their on-screen chemistry sparked personal speculation.
• Neither Zhao Lusi nor Chen Zheyuan has announced a relationship. No wedding date, engagement, or joint public appearance in a romantic context has been reported by any editorial outlet.
• When pressed on the topic in an August 2025 social-media post, Zhao Lusi did not acknowledge the marriage claim, focusing instead on her health and legal issues.

The pattern: Marriage rumours are a staple of Chinese celebrity fandom, often fuelled by social-media posts from unofficial fan accounts. Without a statement from either actor or their representatives, the 2026 wedding should be treated as unsubstantiated.

Timeline signal

Quotes from key voices

“I have been suffering from depression since 2019. During my health crisis, my management company did nothing to help me.”

— Zhao Lusi, via Weibo, August 2025 (as reported by CNA Lifestyle)

“We are shocked by the allegations. Our operations have always complied with the law and our contracts.”

— Galaxy Cool Entertainment, official Weibo statement, August 3, 2025 (as reported by CNA Lifestyle)

In the January 1 Douyin year-end recap, Zhao Lusi wrote: “I will get better. I will walk again.” The video showed her receiving physiotherapy and attempting to stand with assistance (Gulf News).

Since her public refutation of the agency’s statement on August 3, Zhao Lusi has not posted further updates about the lawsuit. Fans continue to monitor her Douyin and Weibo accounts for signs of resumed work or a recovery timeline.

Frequently asked questions

For global fans invested in young Chinese stars, the Zhao Lusi story is a reminder that the glitter of on-screen success often masks punishing contracts and fragile health. The implication for fellow actors and their supporters: the industry’s silence around mental and physical strain is cracking, but accountability still depends on one star at a time speaking out — and facing the consequences.