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| SNH48’s Agency Loses Court Case Over Unpaid Hairstylist — Ordered to Compensate Worker |
Shanghai-based entertainment powerhouse Star48 Culture Media Group — the agency behind idol group SNH48 — has found itself on the losing side of a courtroom battle after a hairstylist took legal action over unpaid wages.
The case, which quietly wrapped up this month, has stirred up plenty of online chatter, especially given the involvement of former SNH48 star Kiku Ju Jingyi.
The Dispute
According to the court’s published verdict, a hairstylist surnamed Wang filed a lawsuit against STAR48 (also known as Siba Media) after multiple attempts to secure overdue payment went nowhere.
Wang claimed she had been hired by the company to provide hairstyling services for Ju Jingyi during several public appearances between June 15 and 18, 2024.
Despite completing the work as agreed, the payment allegedly never arrived.
After being ignored and even blocked from contacting the company, Wang eventually decided to bring the issue to court in February 2025.
She accused the agency of being uncooperative and unprofessional in handling the matter.
Siba Media’s Defence
Star48 denied the claims, insisting there had never been a formal employment contract between Wang and the company.
Instead, they argued that the hairstylist had been personally hired by Ju Jingyi and that the payment responsibility should fall on the singer herself through her event reimbursements.
Ju Jingyi, however, told the court she was unaware of the hairstylist’s agreement with Star48 and maintained that the case had “no direct link” to her personally.
The Court’s Decision
After reviewing the evidence, the court sided with the hairstylist.
It found that Wang had indeed worked repeatedly for Ju Jingyi under Star48’s arrangements, and that the company had previously paid her for similar services — proving an implicit employment relationship existed.
The claim that Wang was privately hired by Ju Jingyi was dismissed as baseless.
The final ruling ordered Star48 Culture Media Group to pay 9,000 yuan (around £980) in unpaid wages plus 188.8 yuan (about £20) for transport costs.
Public Reaction
The verdict has reignited public debate around how entertainment agencies treat behind-the-scenes staff like stylists and makeup artists.
Many netizens praised the hairstylist for standing her ground, while others criticised Siba Media for its lack of accountability.
Though Ju Jingyi’s name was dragged into the headlines, she emerged largely unscathed legally, with the court confirming she wasn’t directly involved in the dispute.
Still, fans noted that the controversy reflects a broader issue of labour ethics in China’s entertainment industry — where freelancers often struggle to get paid on time.
As of now, Star48 has not publicly commented on the court’s decision.
Source: Sohu