New video evidence rocks Yu Menglong retrial: Five additional names thrust into emergency probe amid signs of immense backstage protection
BEIJING — Just hours into the retrial, a secretly recorded video submitted by Yu Menglong’s manager has compelled the court to launch an urgent investigation into at least five previously unnamed individuals. The footage — allegedly capturing shocking moments from the night of September 11, 2025 — not only challenges the original “accidental fall from the fifth floor while intoxicated” conclusion but also exposes a protective network so powerful that the entire judicial process is proceeding with unprecedented caution.
Yu Menglong, the young actor once celebrated as the “gentle gem” of Chinese entertainment, died after falling from a high-rise apartment in Beijing. Police initially ruled the death an accident linked to alcohol, and the case was swiftly closed without any criminal indication. Yet relentless online skepticism — fueled by leaked audio screams, dark-web images, and widespread allegations of violence and torture — forced authorities to reopen the investigation under extraordinary public pressure.
According to insiders tracking the case closely, the new video shows multiple people present at the scene, including prominent entertainment figures and possibly individuals tied to high-level officials. The five newly named persons — identities not yet officially released — are believed to have direct or indirect connections to earlier suspects, among them manager Du Qiang, actress Song Yiren, and several younger talents under Tianyu Media. Online communities in China and abroad have already labeled them part of the so-called “17-person suspect group” tied to the fatal party that night.
What stands out is the court’s extreme restraint. Hearings are closed-door, information tightly controlled, and even the announcement of new names requires heavy vetting. Observers argue this is no longer merely a celebrity death case but evidence of dangerous overlap between political power, show business, and shadowy activities such as money laundering or abuse of influence. Some internal sources claim large sums were paid to erase traces, including alleged payoffs to security staff immediately after the incident.
The story has captured global attention. From Reddit threads and YouTube deep dives to features in Foreign Policy and The Economic Times, the case is increasingly compared to a “Chinese entertainment Watergate” — where a seemingly simple death reveals deep fractures in the system. The “Justice for Yu Menglong” movement has spread worldwide, amassing millions of discussions despite aggressive keyword censorship inside China.
Will this video have the strength to overturn the original verdict and drag those truly responsible into the open? Or will the protective forces once again succeed in burying the truth? The answer may reshape public trust in China’s justice system for years to come.
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