Two weeks ago, worries about the health of Chinese actress Zhao Lusi were raised when she was rushed to a Shanghai hospital after she became unwell on the set of new romance drama Almost Lovers.
A video of the 26-year-old slumped in a wheelchair as she was wheeled into the hospital went viral, sparking concern among fans.
A close friend of the star later revealed Lusi had been diagnosed with aphasia, a disorder that affects a person’s ability to understand and use a language.
The friend also accused Lusi’s former manager of physically and verbally abusing her five years ago.
On January 1, the actress, who rose to fame for her role in 2020 historical drama in The Romance of Tiger and Rose, took to Weibo to address rumours about her health and confirmed abuse allegations.
She described how she was beaten and endured verbal abuse as well as psychological manipulation (PUA) by her management in 2019.
“At the time, I believed it was my fault for not performing well in auditions. I didn’t dare speak out or seek help — I just wanted to escape. I handled everything on my own because I was used to it,” she wrote.
After gaining recognition for her work, she mustered the courage to leave the company.
However, the manager demanded a significant “severance fee” and spread damaging rumours, causing her continued distress.
Lusi also revealed she was diagnosed with conversion disorder and anxiety, which caused her weight to plummet to 36.9kg.
Conversion disorder is a rare mental health condition that causes physical symptoms without an underlying physical cause. People suffering from the disorder can have serious symptoms such as sudden blindness, paralysis, seizures, or an inability to swallow.
She admitted that she had long ignored signs of depression, which worsened over time, leading to a near collapse of her mental and physical health.
She urged the public to prioritise mental health and seek professional help when needed.
“I survived because of love,” she wrote, ending her post with New Year’s wishes for her followers.
Lusi also shared a video on Douyin showing her recovery progress.
The clip begins with snapshots of Lusi’s past work and private moments, transitioning to pics of her current hospital recovery.
In the recent footage, Lusi, dressed in a red and white gingham dress, looked significantly thinner.
She looks wobbly as she takes slow and careful steps. In a separate footage, she struggles to feed herself with a spoon.
She is also seen sitting in a wheelchair attempting to peel chestnuts. Despite her struggles, she smiles brightly at the camera.
Fans have rallied behind Lusi, offering words of encouragement and hope for her speedy recovery.
“Seeing her cry and try to hit her legs when she couldn’t walk broke me,” wrote a fan, while another said: “I suggest she take a break for a few years. Travel and enjoy life. Your health is most important!”