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| Zhao Lusi’s Weibo Wipe Causes Trouble: Sina Reportedly Blocks Her Hot Searches After Account Deletion |
It looks like Chinese actress Zhao Lusi is still paying the price for pressing that “delete account” button on Weibo a few months ago.
Despite officially closing the chapter with her old agency Galaxy Kuyu and moving on to Orca Entertainment (under Alibaba), her online presence hasn’t quite bounced back yet — mainly because Sina, the parent company of Weibo, is reportedly still salty about it.
Over the weekend, Zhao Lusi held a warm and emotional birthday concert and fan meeting in Chengdu titled “Missing You Like Noodles” (思念如面) — marking her proper comeback after nearly a year off work. But surprisingly, not a single Weibo hot search popped up about it. Not one.
According to insiders, Sina allegedly blocked her from appearing in its trending lists, and even her team can’t pay to boost posts there — which is a huge deal considering Weibo remains China’s biggest conversation hub for celebs.
Instead, her new team has now shifted their entire focus to video promotions on platforms like Douyin, Bilibili, and Xiaohongshu, where the algorithm is friendlier and the vibe’s less political.
A Fresh Start — New Studio, New Agency, Same Determination
At her Chengdu concert last weekend, Zhao Lusi officially announced that she’s established her own studio and signed with Orca Entertainment, which is headed by her longtime mentor Li Wei.
The new studio’s tagline — “A new journey begins, and the road ahead shines bright” — says it all: she’s back in control.
The shift marks the official end of her contract dispute with Galaxy Kuyu, which turned messy earlier this year.
Reports say Zhao Lusi had accused the old agency of poor management practices and work pressure during her health break last summer.
Now that her studio has fully detached from Galaxy Kuyu’s network — with all company tags removed from her accounts — she’s finally operating independently.
During the concert, the actress got emotional several times. She admitted,
“There was a time I thought I couldn’t continue being an actress. But it was you, my fans, who gave me courage to come back.”
Fans responded by singing along in the audience, creating a heart-warming scene that became a small but powerful reminder of her enduring popularity — even if Weibo won’t show it.
Industry Shifts and Home Roots
Under her new agency, Zhao Lusi will reportedly gain more creative control over her roles and projects, plus priority access to Alibaba’s streaming and production resources.
The company plans to back her in new dramas and short-form media to rebuild momentum outside the Weibo ecosystem.
Interestingly, Lusi seems to be rooting her next career chapter back home in Sichuan.
Her concert and her restaurant brand “Missing You Like Noodles” are both based in Chengdu, hinting she’s turning her hometown into her long-term business and creative base.
Industry watchers note this move fits a bigger trend of Chinese actors seeking greater independence and control after years of restrictive agency contracts.
Lusi’s breakout performance in “Shining For You (许我耀眼)” earlier this year already gave her a strong foundation to negotiate this new freedom.
While Sina’s reported cold shoulder might keep Zhao Lusi’s name out of Weibo’s hot searches for a while, it’s unlikely to dent her popularity in the long run.
She’s got her fanbase, her platform, and her comeback story — and honestly, the silent treatment from Weibo might even make her seem more independent in the public eye.
If anything, Zhao Lusi’s move to video-first promotions could set a new standard for how stars survive in a digital landscape where one app’s grudge can no longer make or break a career.
Source: Sohu