“From CMC’s Dark Room to Shenlan’s Phoenix Logo: Yu Menglong — Hope or New Prisoner?”
The dramatic transition of actor Yu Menglong from CMC Entertainment to Shenlan Entertainment is not merely a career move — it has reignited haunting memories of the “curse” that plagues the Chinese entertainment industry: once an artist signs a contract, true freedom becomes nearly impossible.
The painful memory of 2020 still haunts fans: inside a closed-door CMC meeting, an utterly exhausted Yu Menglong reportedly knelt and sobbed uncontrollably, begging for rest or even to leave the industry entirely. Instead of being heard, he was forced to sign a contract appendix with the cold wording: “commitment to never leave the company forever.” This marked the peak of long-standing allegations about slave-like contracts, total control over personal life, and severe psychological pressure.
CMC has long been heavily criticized for a series of suicides among its young artists: at least three cases were documented within four years, along with lawsuits that were swiftly buried thanks to financial power and connections. Many now call it “the graveyard of dreams,” a place where talent is suffocated for profit.
When Yu Menglong unveiled his new chapter with Shenlan, complete with a refreshed, brightly colored phoenix logo, many hoped he had truly been “reborn.” The truth is far crueler: internal documents and netizen analysis reveal that Shenlan is essentially an upgraded version of CMC — same core shareholders, same harsh management model, only a name change to dodge public backlash after repeated scandals.
A chilling 2018 incident still gives fans goosebumps: Yu Menglong was locked in a dark room for 72 hours simply for posting the status “I just want to breathe.” Now, as he declares “freedom” under Shenlan, he stands on the brink of history repeating itself. Leaked contract terms show Shenlan retains the same control mechanisms: no personal free speech, 18–20 hour daily schedules, and astronomical compensation demands for early departure.
Will Yu Menglong dare to become the first to break the “CMC curse”? Could he go public with accusations and call for industry reform, or will he endure in silence like so many before him? The answer remains hanging in the air.
Online communities are sharply divided: one side urges Yu to “burn the entire tower down” to end the tragedy, while the other fears any resistance could lead to a devastating outcome. Shenlan has issued no official comment, while images of a radiant, smiling Yu Menglong in new project teasers only fuel more heated discussion.
The Chinese entertainment industry stands at a crossroads: will it continue to cover up and repeat the same tragedies, or finally confront reality? For Yu Menglong — the man who once knelt crying just to be allowed to breathe — this story is no longer just his own. It is a warning bell for an entire generation of young artists.
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