Former AKB48 Team SH member Liu Nian has spoken candidly about her controversial departure from the group and the reasons behind her alleged contract breach.
Liu Nian, who first entered the AKB48 system in 2018 as a trainee for AKB48 China, later debuted as a first-generation member of AKB48 Team SH. In the AKB48 system, it is common for members to “graduate” to make way for newcomers, but Liu Nian’s exit in late 2024 was anything but ordinary.
In December, Liu Nian abruptly left the group, sparking rumors after her presence was quietly erased from the team’s official Weibo account. Reports revealed that her management, Shanghai Shangyue Culture Development Co., Ltd, had threatened legal action, accusing her of breaching her exclusivity contract by working with outside parties.
During a recent livestream, Liu Nian shed light on her decision. She revealed that the lucrative short drama industry offered opportunities she could not ignore:
“As an actress, I can make up to 100,000 yuan (around $14,000 USD) in a single day. That was one of the reasons I chose to leave,” Liu Nian explained, adding that she values the friendships and experience she has gained since pursuing acting.
Her gamble appears to have paid off. In 2024, her short drama series Palace Maid Fuyao topped Douyin (China’s TikTok) charts with over 2.5 billion views. Since then, she has acted in 12 short dramas in 2025 alone, cementing her status as a rising star in China’s fast-growing short drama market.
By leaving her idol past behind, Liu Nian has transformed into one of the most in-demand actresses in the industry, proving that her controversial exit may have been the right choice for her future.
Sources: Koreaboo,Tonboriday
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