For years, Zhao Liying has reigned as one of C-entertainment’s top stars, admired for her relentless dedication to her craft. In 2024, she achieved new milestones by starring in critically acclaimed projects, proving her enduring appeal.

However, 2025 turned into a nightmare year. Within just months, the actress who was once celebrated has become the subject of harsh criticism, with both her acting career and public image suffering severe setbacks.

Her first major blow came from two anticipated projects: Sunflower and What a Wonderful World. Despite high expectations, both works fell short. Sunflower, promoted as a tribute to women overcoming social prejudice, was panned for its shallow script, crude dialogue, and lack of depth.

While Zhao Liying was expected to shine, critics argued she merely recycled her familiar acting style. The strong, resilient expressions that once worked in past dramas now felt forced in a film requiring psychological nuance. Her performance was criticized as inadequate, sparking heated debate from the moment the movie premiered.

Meanwhile, What a Wonderful World fared even worse on television. Centered around multiple personality disorder and a surreal world, the concept intrigued at first but quickly lost audiences due to a confusing narrative and pretentious artistic style. Zhao Liying avoided the overacting seen in Sunflower but was instead slammed for her stiff expressions and lifeless gaze. The series struggled to attract viewers, with episodes failing to surpass 10 million views—a lackluster performance by her usual standards.

Yet, the final blow was not her acting, but her own words. In May 2025, rumors surfaced linking Zhao Liying to director Zhao Deyin, who previously worked with her on The Unseen Sister. The director’s complicated personal history immediately made the rumored romance controversial.

While many expected Zhao Liying to remain silent, she shocked the public by directly tagging Sina—the outlet that published the dating report—in a Weibo post and insulting them with crude language. What made matters worse was her decision to insert the title of her upcoming drama What a Wonderful World into the post, making it appear as though she was exploiting the scandal to promote her work.

That one impulsive outburst destroyed her image. Fans and the general public accused her of disrespecting viewers and weaponizing her private life for marketing. The backlash spread quickly, with hashtags demanding her boycott trending nonstop. Once adored as a beloved star, Zhao Liying became a target of widespread criticism, forcing her into semi-hiatus and limited media appearances.

From being hailed as a top-tier actress, Zhao Liying now finds herself grappling with the collapse of her reputation. With flopped films, disappointing performances, and a scandalous remark, her career trajectory has shifted dramatically. Projects once lined up for her future are now in question.

Sources: kenh14