Yu Menglong was once forced to drink until she nearly died at an entertainment tycoon’s party and had a blockbuster role stolen by someone else—so why is justice finally circling back and the people who once crushed her now facing an enormous price? th

Yu Menglong: From near-fatal forced drinking at elite parties to a symbol of returning justice in Chinese entertainment

In the middle of a glittering Beijing banquet, under sparkling chandeliers and amid the sound of expensive laughter, Yu Menglong suddenly collapsed—face ashen, vomiting uncontrollably after being forced to drink until she nearly died. She was rushed to hospital with acute alcohol poisoning and remained there for three days to recover. The incident was not treated as a mere personal accident; online communities in China quickly linked it to pressure from powerful figures in the entertainment industry who, according to widespread rumors, used alcohol as a tool to punish, control, and humiliate those in the business.

Yu Menglong, once a promising young actress, endured a dark period between 2016 and 2018: on average 3–4 parties per month where she was compelled to participate in activities far beyond her limits. One major role she had prepared for—a lead part in a project that later became a blockbuster thanks to Wang Yibo—was abruptly taken away from her following one such night. Today, Chinese social media is exploding as old clips, insider accounts, and leaked documents resurface, pointing fingers at several big names: Wang Zhonglei (former co-founder and CEO of Huayi Brothers), Wang Sicong (son of the Wanda Group tycoon), and certain directors and producers.

Huayi Brothers—the once-dominant force in Chinese cinema—is now in deep crisis. According to Tianancha data, two of its core subsidiaries, along with legal representatives Wang Zhonglei and Wang Zhongjun, have been placed under high-level consumption restrictions by the Beijing Chaoyang District People’s Court due to a 747.3 million RMB enforcement case. As of January 2026, Huayi Brothers Media’s market capitalization stands at roughly 6 billion RMB (about US$800 million), a dramatic fall from its peak of nearly 90 billion RMB. The company continues to report losses, shrinking assets, and massive cash-flow deficits—a clear sign of collapse following a string of scandals.

The story extends far beyond Yu Menglong. Other names have surfaced in online discussions: Qiao Renliang (who died tragically in 2016), Kris Wu (arrested in 2021), Fan Shiqi, and several younger artists are all mentioned in the whispers spreading across Weibo and Douyin. One leaked audio clip shows Fan Shiqi shouting over the phone, demanding director Hu Haiyang “open” Yu Menglong to retrieve a USB drive—fueling public outrage and raising questions about an organized system of manipulation in the industry.

Now, as old materials are unearthed and major companies stumble one after another, mainland netizens are witnessing a rare phenomenon: “karma” appears to be arriving swiftly. Yu Menglong—who once stayed silent through humiliation and career sabotage—has become a symbol for thousands of young artists who have been suppressed. Is this the beginning of a larger reckoning in Chinese-language show business, or merely a temporary storm on social media?