On May 9, Zhao Lusi held her “Stay Romantic” concert at IMPACT Arena in Thailand, a venue with a reported capacity of around 12,000 seats. The four-hour show marked a major turning point in her career, as it was her first ticketed solo concert outside China.

Throughout the concert, Zhao Lusi showcased multiple concepts and performances, opening with “Different Shade Of Red” before later performing tracks including “Champagne Drop” and “Black Queen.” She also surprised Thai fans by singing a local song and interacting closely with the audience.

The actress attracted enormous attention online thanks to her visuals, luxury haute couture outfits, and dramatic image transformation during the concert. Clips and photos from the event quickly spread across Weibo, Xiaohongshu, and other social platforms.

However, the concert also triggered intense criticism.

Many viewers accused Zhao Lusi of obvious lip-syncing, claiming her mouth movements frequently failed to match the backing track. Some attendees expressed disappointment over ticket prices ranging from approximately $75 to over $295 USD, arguing that the overall quality did not justify the cost.

Her dance performance also became a major topic of debate.

Although Zhao Lusi attempted a more mature and sexy stage image including bold choreography and visible leg tattoos many netizens felt her movements lacked power, precision, and professional polish.

Some comments compared her unfavorably to Korean and Japanese idols, arguing that her live singing and dance abilities appeared significantly weaker than professionally trained performers.

Criticism also extended to the concert’s production quality. Some viewers described the stage design as overly simple, noting limited lighting effects, weak audio production, and insufficient backup dancers to support the performance.

As backlash grew, some internet users accused certain Chinese celebrities of relying heavily on star power and fan loyalty rather than investing in high-quality live productions.

Fans, however, quickly defended Zhao Lusi.

Supporters emphasized that she is primarily an actress rather than a professionally trained idol. They argued that performing solo for nearly four consecutive hours was already an impressive achievement.

Fans also pointed out that Zhao Lusi previously held two free concerts in China with approximately 6,000 seats each, insisting that profit was not her sole motivation.

Some additionally argued that technical limitations at the Thailand venue may have affected the final production quality.

The controversy arrives during a particularly sensitive period in Zhao Lusi’s acting career.

Despite remaining one of the most popular post-95 Chinese actresses, reports recently claimed the star has gone more than 400 days without joining a new drama production.

According to Sina, industry insiders allegedly described an unnamed “top post-95 actress” as a “high-risk factor” due to concerns about leaving productions midway through filming. Many Chinese netizens immediately speculated that the report referred to Zhao Lusi.

The actress previously explained her extended hiatus by saying she was waiting for the right script. However, many believe the real cause stems from controversies involving drama project “Lover” and disputes with her former management company.

In late 2024, Zhao Lusi reportedly experienced health problems amid conflicts surrounding the production. She publicly criticized her former agency and expressed reluctance to return to complete remaining scenes.

When reports later emerged that producers planned to salvage the unfinished drama using previously filmed footage, Zhao Lusi made comments that some interpreted as mocking the production team.

Those controversies reportedly damaged her reputation among producers and investors, with some insiders allegedly viewing her as a risky casting choice.

Amid uncertainty surrounding her acting career, Zhao Lusi has noticeably shifted focus toward music activities, including releasing the MV for “Champagne Drop” and building a stronger performer image.

Still, following the backlash from her Thailand concert, many believe the actress faces significant challenges if she hopes to establish herself seriously within the music industry rather than relying solely on celebrity popularity.

Sources: Sina,Sohu,Weibo