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| From Scripts to Streams: Gao Taiyu Swaps Acting for the Live Life |
Remember Gao Taiyu? Some of you might have missed him — what happened to him now? That tall drink of water once tipped to be the next big heartthrob of Chinese dramas — the “visual prince” of a new generation? Well, he’s not dead, not cancelled, and definitely not hiding. He’s just swapped spotlights for smartphone screens.
Lately, fans have noticed something odd: while other actors are busy hyping up new roles or popping up in dramas, Gao’s been clocking in daily on Xiaohongshu — not with acting updates, but with surprisingly chill, sometimes oddly wholesome posts. Outfit of the day? Sorted. What he had for lunch? Shared. New coffee mug haul? Oh, he’s got opinions.
Naturally, netizens started asking: where’s he gone? Has he ditched acting? Is this a sneaky rebrand? Or has he joined the witness protection programme for gorgeous men?
Turns out, the real answer’s a bit more grounded. According to someone close to him — anonymous, of course, because nobody wants to get name-dropped in an entertainment storm — Gao’s not been pushed out, cancelled, or tired of fame. He’s just... done with the money games.
“It’s not that he doesn’t want to act anymore,” the insider spilled. “It’s just that roles these days come with low pay and high expectations. One project offered him 20 million yuan, sure — but after giving 8 mil back to the agency in rebates, he’s left with 12. That’s not much once you’ve paid staff, rent, makeup, and kept up the glam look people expect.”
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In short: it’s not worth it. Long shoots, tight scripts, image pressure — and not enough cash to justify it. So what’s a man to do in this economy? Go digital, of course.
Enter: Live-streaming Gao. Yep, the lad’s gone full content creator. Not just posting selfies — he’s now part of the booming Chinese live commerce scene, turning his charm into coin on platforms like Xiaohongshu, Douyin, and Weibo. Whether it’s skincare, lifestyle bits, or just vibing with fans, this new gig’s looking a lot more lucrative.
“One live session can bring in tens of millions,” said a Chinese social media expert. “And the payout’s fast. No waiting six months for your drama royalties to clear.”
Fans seem to be into it. Comments on his posts are full of support:
💬 “If he can live well without acting, why go back to an industry that doesn’t value talent?”
💬 “Still fine as ever. We’re getting more of him now than when he was doing dramas!”
Of course, not everyone’s thrilled. Some diehards are still hoping for his on-screen return:
💬 “Wasted potential. That face should be framed in historical costume on my telly, not just flogging moisturiser on my phone.”
To be fair, this isn’t a one-off case. Industry analysts reckon more and more celebs from Gao Taiyy’s generation are starting to get real about their career paths. When roles dry up, pay shrinks, and the stress keeps piling on, why not pivot?
Especially in today’s digital age, clout isn’t just about film credits or red carpet runs. It’s about connection. And if a celeb can build that daily with their fans — even from their sofa — who’s to say that’s not success?
As for Gao himself, don’t count him out just yet. After starring in Gank Your Heart opposite Wang Yibo, he’s still got name value and talent to spare.
“I think he’s just testing the waters,” one industry watcher told us. “If the right script and paycheck comes along, I wouldn’t be shocked if he steps back into the game. But for now? He’s loving the freedom.”
And while we wait to see if he makes a grand return to the small screen, fans can still catch a daily dose of Gao — just not in dramas, but in real-time, one live stream at a time.