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| SNH48’s Zhou Shiyu and Siba Media Headed to Court Over Contract Disputes |
The drama surrounding former SNH48 star Zhou Shiyu is now moving from social media statements to a courtroom showdown.
According to business platform Tianyancha, Shanghai Siba Culture Media Group Co., Ltd. (the company behind SNH48) has recently filed three fresh court announcements, sparking heated chatter across C-entertainment circles.
Two of the new filings list Siba as the plaintiff, targeting both Zhou Shiyu and fellow idol Zhang Run as defendants.
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The third flips the script, with Zhou herself suing Siba. All three cases fall under the category of contract disputes and are slated to be heard on 19 November at the Hongkou District People’s Court in Shanghai.
Court documents circulating online even show the case numbers and times, with one hearing set for 14:00 and another at 15:30 local time.
This clash isn’t out of the blue.
Back in June 2025, Zhou Shiyu and Zhang Run both announced they were cutting ties with Siba.
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Zhou Shiyu’s departure especially made waves, as she published a long and heartfelt statement.
In it, she reflected on her seven years with the group—describing a journey full of highs and lows, moments of disappointment, and what she called unfair treatment.
Zhou Shiyu spoke candidly about being put on hiatus without consent, facing poor communication with management, and even being sidelined during milestone events such as her birthday stage.
On top of that, she pointed to declining health, revealing that doctors had advised urgent surgery after regular treatment wasn’t enough.
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In her own words, Zhou Shiyu said she had tried to resolve things privately but claims the agency blocked her attempts at dialogue.
She also alleged that parts of her rightful income—including pay connected to her third-place finish in the 2024 SNH48 general election—were withheld.
Feeling there was no other way forward, Zhou Shiyu appointed a lawyer and officially took her battle to the legal stage.
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Fans have rallied around Zhou, praising her bravery for speaking up while also expressing sadness that her idol career hit such turbulence.
Within the wider industry, the upcoming hearings are being closely watched as they could set a precedent for how agencies handle contracts with long-serving idol members.
Whatever the outcome, November’s hearings mark the latest—and perhaps most decisive—chapter in the Zhou Shiyu vs Siba saga.
For now, all eyes are on the Hongkou courthouse, where the idol’s seven-year journey with her management will be dissected not on stage, but under the scrutiny of the law.