On February 24, Sina reported that Zhao Lusi announced the release of a new entertainment program on Mango TV, a channel under Hunan Television, titled “A Little Courage”. The show will document the actress’s recent charitable journey to the Ganzi Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan, which she undertook in mid-February. The program is intended to be heartwarming and healing, focusing on ordinary people’s lives.
This announcement quickly became a hot topic on Weibo but received mixed reactions. Previously, Zhao Lusi had taken a break from filming “Almost Lover” due to illness, causing significant losses for the production team. However, instead of returning to complete her scenes after recovering, she traveled to high-altitude mountainous areas to film a reality show.
Many were surprised that Zhao Lusi decided to turn her charitable journey into a commercial project under the guise of emotional healing. Critics accused her of using her illness for marketing, stirring public attention for days, only to later capitalize on it for personal gain.
Earlier, when Zhao Lusi announced her decision to visit the remote and impoverished Ganzi region an area with difficult terrain many questioned her choice. Given that she had previously suffered temporary paralysis and had difficulty moving naturally, climbing mountains would have been physically demanding. However, after she recorded the entire journey and turned it into an entertainment show, the public finally understood her true intentions and mocked her for being “desperate for fame”.
Zhao Lusi’s trip gained public attention because she had previously suffered from severe illness and long-term depression. Doctors had advised her to engage in meaningful and positive activities to help her emotional recovery. However, no matter what she does, Zhao Lusi continues to face widespread criticism. In fact, she is now disliked even more than before her health break.
According to QQ, while Zhao Lusi‘s trip may have been well-intentioned, many online comments dismissed it as an act, accusing her of merely “putting on a show” to regain public favor.
Sources further revealed that “Zhao Lusi is criticized no matter what she does”. Previously, the actress herself admitted to using her illness for marketing, which has led the public to lose trust in her. By alienating her audience, Zhao Lusi may be blocking her own path in the industry.
Her rapid recovery after being severely ill has even been ridiculed as a “medical miracle”. Many netizens believe that Zhao Lusi’s scandal has had a negative impact on those who genuinely suffer from depression. While this illness is notoriously difficult to cure, the actress seemingly made it appear lighthearted, claiming to have fully recovered in just three months.
At the height of her illness, calls for a boycott and broadcast ban against Zhao Lusi gained momentum. Many viewers expressed their frustration, stating that rather than feeling sympathy for the actress, they were annoyed by what seemed to be an overly orchestrated PR stunt executed by her and her agency.