On December 24, Chinese media outlet Sohu reported the circulation of a shocking audio file involving actress Zuo Yi, which quickly went viral on social media. The recording allegedly captured Zuo Yi verbally abusing her assistant, the sound of objects being smashed, and a woman’s screams as she endured physical assault.

The assistant, who moved into Zuo Yi’s residence on September 10, shared her account online. Despite taking on a heavy workload, she struggled under the actress’s unpredictable temper. According to the former assistant, Zuo Yi frequently made unreasonable demands, pushing her to exhaustion. When the assistant requested to resign and asked for owed wages on September 24, the situation escalated. Zuo Yi reportedly attacked the assistant with household items, causing physical injuries.

Following the incident, Zuo Yi publicly apologized and confirmed she had paid full wages and medical compensation totaling 5,619 CNY to her former assistant. In her statement, she cited emotional immersion in acting as a reason for her misconduct: “I apologize for assaulting my assistant. At times I became too absorbed in my role, failing to control my emotions, and my behavior was unacceptable.”

Born in 1998, Zuo Yi is known for works such as Searching for Love, Gentlemen I’m in Your Care, Ms. Su’s Marriage Game, earning her the reputation of “internet short film queen” due to her innocent and gentle appearance. However, the audio leak has revealed a more volatile side of the actress, who reportedly reacts explosively to minor provocations. Previous reports even mention her physically striking former boyfriend Chen Gang during their relationship for trivial reasons, such as waking her up for makeup.

The scandal has prompted widespread condemnation from Chinese netizens, with many calling for her ban from broadcasting due to the severe breach of professional ethics and personal conduct. Public response indicates that appearances can be deceiving, and fans are increasingly scrutinizing celebrities beyond their screen personas.