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| Ju Jingyi Faces Fresh Tax Allegations as Veil of Shadows Locks April Premiere. (Credits: Weibo) |
Chinese singer-actress Ju Jingyi has found herself at the centre of a rapidly intensifying dispute just as her long-awaited costume drama Veil of Shadows (月鳞绮纪) confirmed its 1 April 2026 premiere, with fresh tax-related allegations surfacing a day earlier and pushing the story beyond industry gossip into a broader public debate.
The timing has raised eyebrows across the Chinese entertainment scene. On 30 March, her former agency STAR48 Siba Media submitted a report to tax authorities alleging that the actress significantly underreported her 2024 income.
According to the claim, Ju Jingyi declared earnings of around 11 million yuan while her actual income for a six-month period allegedly exceeded 50 million yuan, suggesting a gap of more than 85%.
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Authorities are understood to have received the complaint, though no official findings have been released and the claims remain unverified.
The controversy lands at a particularly sensitive moment. Ju Jingyi had only just returned to social media to promote Veil of Shadows, sharing a line about wanting to finally be her “true self” after years of control.
The statement, intended to build intrigue around her character, has instead been widely interpreted as echoing her real-life fallout with Siba Media, a dispute that has been ongoing since 2024..
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| Ju Jingyi Facing Potential Career Fallout After Siba Raises Tax Allegations |
That fallout has already played out in public statements from both sides. Ju Jingyi previously asserted that her contract with Siba ended in June 2024 and accused the agency of multiple breaches, including lack of transparency over her earnings.
Her legal team further alleged irregular practices involving dual contracts and undisclosed income streams.
Siba Media has consistently denied these claims, insisting the contract dispute remains under judicial review and that no settlement has been reached.
The agency’s latest move signals a clear escalation. In earlier statements, Siba rejected circulating online rumours suggesting reconciliation between the two parties, arguing that such narratives misled regulators and the public.
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The new tax allegation, filed under real-name reporting, shifts the conflict from contractual disagreement into a far more serious arena that could carry lasting professional consequences if proven.
Within the industry, tax compliance has long been a sensitive issue, and past cases have shown how quickly reputations can unravel.
That context has fuelled speculation about whether the allegations could affect the rollout of Veil of Shadows, a big-budget historical drama already subject to delays linked to the ongoing dispute.
For now, there has been no official indication of a change to its release schedule.
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Some netizens view the timing as strategic, pointing to the unresolved legal battle and suggesting the report may be part of a broader pressure tactic.
Others argue that the seriousness of tax matters should not be dismissed, emphasising that any wrongdoing must be addressed regardless of industry politics. A third camp remains cautious, noting that without verified findings, conclusions are premature.
The debate has also reignited scrutiny of artist-agency relationships in the Chinese entertainment sector, where disputes over contracts, revenue transparency and control are not uncommon but rarely spill into such high-profile territory. Ju Jingyi’s case now sits at the intersection of those long-standing tensions and the heightened accountability surrounding financial conduct.
With Veil of Shadows poised to debut, the coming weeks will be critical not only for the drama’s reception but also for Ju Jingyi’s standing in the industry. Much now depends on the outcome of any official investigation and whether the narrative shifts from allegation to confirmation or dismissal.
As the story continues to unfold, audiences are watching closely, weighing both the legal developments and the wider implications for the industry. What do you make of the timing and the claims—coincidence, strategy, or something more serious?