Zhao Lu Si’s Healing Variety Show Be Myself Abruptly Paused Airing After Receiving Criticism Over Some of Her Statements During the Show
So the recent pause/stop/end of airing of C-actress Zhao Lu Si and her personal healing variety show Be Myself, where she spent time in a remote mountain village just hanging out with the villagers, has not been fully explained yet but likely the result of recent criticism. Hunan TV paid for it and it’s airing on its streaming platform Mango but this week the show suddenly did not air the expected next episode and a different show aired instead. The show has received criticism since it premiered in early April from viewers for some of Zhao Lu Si’s actions and words, the TL:DR is that she comes across as out-of-touch, tone deaf, and not very thoughtful. She told a local artisan that it was “selfish” not to train a successor and pass along the art otherwise it would disappear, despite being told no one wanted to learn it anymore (likely because it was time consuming and not profitable). She was shocked a local child from this remote village had never taken artistic photographs before (which cost money) and showed her own glossy ones taken as a kid. She mistook an older person with a cane as the local village head by jumping to conclusions. She talked about the long hours she worked filming on a set to village laborer types. She responded to a kid who asked what education was needed to be an actress that all she had was a high school diploma, so is seen as discouraging education which is a top priority of Chinese social belief system. When told the price of a cheap local product, she haggled it lower and she’s at a village where the people live close or below the poverty line already and she makes exponential times more as a top actress. And there are more, and since this show was conceived by Zhao Lu Si she’s understandably receiving any and all of the criticism rather than the production team. I’m not sure if this show will be edited further and return to finish airing or simply quietly pulled permanently. Apparently earlier episodes some of her problematic statement have already been edited out in subsequent days after airing.
Zhao Lusi is not suitable for reality style show. She had previous experience of saying things that could get many public misunderstanding her intent, mildly putting it. She has a more privileged upbringing then those living in such rural area. And she can speak without much thought… that can make her look bad.
She is a very sensitive person, such show will just leave her open to be judge by others. She is exposing herself to critics. I honestly do not understand the need to do so soon after her mental collapse. She does not need to prove herself to anyone currently.
Anyway, I may not be her fan but I do enjoy some of her projects. I may not understand some of the decision she makes but she is a adult, I am not one to judge.
Yep, it’s really contradicting how she’s coming back into the spotlight so soon in a reality show that exposes her character which will emotionally hurt her more when subject to criticism compared to being criticized for her acting in a drama.
Now it seems that her agency is trying to highlight her international popularity with the amount of marketing posts I see from YXHs. My opinion remains the same – international popularity is moot in C-ent if the celebrity isn’t deemed qualified to be a role model due to problematic words or actions. I guess there’s still the benefit of earning money by holding fanmeetings or concerts outside of China like ZZH and LYF though, but I doubt the girl will want this dwindling career path.
I feel her need to stay visible. She does not want to loss her Idol status that she has worked hard for, but the method of how she is doing so is just so unwise.
International popularity… it will not surprise me big overseas Brand will not extend their contract as they will not want to be seen over working this actress currently. They will not cancel her, just will not extend her contract.
Is there nobody on her team that can give her good advice? It’s wild to me all these controversial comments of hers got through review of her show and still made it on air. There really is nobody to blame though as this just seems to be her personality. She’s just not suited for a show like this as she comes across quite self absorbed. She was also supposed to attend the Versace Beijing Film Festival dinner and was apparently cut from the event.
The criticism is she is using people’s poverty to market herself. She’s coming across as self-centered. At best, you can call it a very dumb idea.
Honestly good riddance tbh. I used to like her natural comedic timing in her dramas, but ever since Hidden Love, even her voice and acting has become unbearable. Its like she aspires to be the next Esther Yu with that over the top cutesy acting. Now even her face has changed beyond recognition, and her horrible personality is exposed.
Now that Song Zuer is back, Zhao Lusi can take a long break while reflecting on her actions. SZE is objectively prettier and better in acting.
I’m not even a Zhao Lusi fan, but this kind of comment goes beyond opinion—it’s cruel and ugly.
Mocking someone’s face, voice, and personality, especially someone recovering from depression, isn’t critique—it’s twisting the knife.
You may not be holding it, but every word you type helps drive it in.
Hate like this doesn’t just disappear into the void—people break because of it.
So next time, try using both your brain and your heart before posting.
Karma has a way of circling back when you least expect it.
Ive been reading through all the hate comments and have had the same reaction, how can people be so heartless? Zhao Lusi is beautiful inside and out just like everyone else. Nobody deserves to be judged and abused like that.
Such a sweet person you are. My gran used to say “you must dip your tongue in your brain before you speak”. I guess yours didn’t.
Wow… love those words.
I think the meaning is somewhat misconstrued? The sub above says the man doesn’t want to teach his arts and she asked why, and then subsequently, it cut to her saying he’s selfish for not educating. It doesn’t mention the reason being that no one wanted to learn….
As for the other stuff, a lot of it is due to interpretation. Her saying anyone can be an actor regardless of education level is to inspire others and give them hope.
In my opinion, what she’s saying is innocent enough. Anyone who wants to find a bone to pick with her will find it no matter what. The perspective is based on the individual. She does have a target on her back, and if mental pressure and anxiety was what led to her breakdown before, filming this gives them ammunition.
I hope this excursion gives her a break, but she needs longer to recuperate
Her intent is definitely not bad… just her innocent thoughts and words can really open her to critics.
Timing is so important… she need to rest more and return with a refresh and healthy artiste.
Maybe china should do a version of 3 meals a day. Just 3 or 4 people in some mountain or island cooking and chatting. No need to make some self aware documentary that people are mocking or criticising but there can be something funny and admirable seeing people who cooks well for others or who can’t cook and figuring out how to cook and survive. Great concept.
They already have, it’s called Back to Field 向往的生活.
I enjoyed watch back to Fields but I can understand who public grew out of love for it in later seasons.
@HL I didn’t watch it even though it has the same concept as 3MAD, the way the show was presented was quite boring.
@Lilith, I enjoyed the first few season but it got abit staled in the end. And one of the host may have gotten ahead of himself and many viewers just lost connection with him. And program ratings dropped.
That year, even He Jiong had a number of bad Press which did not help.
I hope something similar returns but the main hosts needs to be suitably chosen. I do find He Jiong a great host.
I find that the issue with most Chinese variety shows tend to be the mindsets and/or lack of chemistry between the casts. Take Divas Hit The Road for example, Season 5 lucked out with good casts while Season 6 went downhill fast.
@Lilith I enjoyed Season 5 immensely. Dilraba is such a darling, the chemistry was amazing. I dropped Season 6 after 2 eps.
She is known to be quite dumb, so it’s not surprising. This is who she really is without a script..
And you’re pretty daft to believe that. If she’s so dumb, how did she rise up and become one of the most popular Chinese actress known world wide?
Not commenting on Zhao Lusi specifically as I’ve no opinion on her, but world wide, the stereotype of stars / actors being dumb as rocks exists because plenty of stars / actors are dumb as rocks. In Chinese entertainment especially, where management and backers are making the decisions and the dramas and films, traffic actors are pretty faces that can and will be replaced. Being popular internationally doesn’t mean the actor is smart. It isn’t like they negotiated the deals with Netflix or Viki. It just means they are working with capital that has deals with Netflix and Viki, etc on traffic projects. In fact, plenty of China’s best actors aren’t internationally famous.
I think she has a reputation of being uneducated. She’s made a few blunders on Chinese history directly related to her role in a drama and the event she was an ambassador for.
Maybe instead of a reality series, they should have marketed it as an attempt to do a mockumentary akin to Cunk on Earth, but featuring a fictional version of her who is an out-of-touch socialite.
I’ve said it before, she jumped too fast into the work force despite leaving her production drama project hanging after such serious allegation and health issues. She should have rested, but all the new project and endorsement is evident a cash cow.
I can’t be sorry for her.
I start questioning the narrative on the cause of her hospitalisation. A lot of things are not mathing or look strange.
Hmmmmm…. Not alone
December 18th hospitalized seriously ill couldn’t talk or walk…. January 1st new year message for a brand she was endorsing.. January 25th back to business… Been suffering from illness for over three years.
Suddenly all back and about?
Who would insist in full fling back into work heard she just became an ambassador for a cosmetic brand …
Decided on her own to do a reality show…..
She’s not the most sought after actress nor the most criticized. Why all the DRAMA?
I DONT SEE ANY HAITUS HERE SIMPLY DRAMA.
Speaking of remarks being tone deaf….
And you’re pretty daft to believe that. If she’s so dumb, how did she rise up and become one of the most popular Chinese actress known world wide?
It may be that the aim of her and her agency is to remain relevant and in the spotlight. Even if the documentary gathers negative views, she is still being spoken about. Especially when she can’t memorize any scripts currently and her acting career is on hold. As long as they don’t do anything too egregious, they should be fine. I do blame the industry, which forces these ‘beautiful people’ to remain constantly in the spotlight or be replaced by the next big thing. As for criticism in Lusi’s acting… she peaked in Hidden Love. All the dramas she’s made since then have been subpar in terms of acting skill and charisma. I wish her agency would give her enough time out of the spotlight to really rest and take a break. I know it is possible to survive a career drought without acting for a while, Diliraba’s agency put her on ice, acting wise for 3 years and it didn’t affect her acting career, but instead it gave her the time she needed to improve her mediocre acting skills. Granted that she wasn’t out of the spotlight completely and was participating in a reality show each week. Maybe they can find something like that for Lusi. Although, from the clips I’ve seen of her reality shows, she doesn’t seem to have the personality for it, as she seems to get offended easily and take herself quite seriously. Being good at reality shows needs a personality who can laugh at themselves, take criticism and be charming onscreen.
I have to say Dilraba is good at variety shows. She has an naturally personable personality that many viewers warm to. In fact, she has high EQ skills. I warm to hr alot in her variety shows. As for dramas..I rarely finish many of her shows.
That’s understandable. She’s good when she plays a character like herself. But I must say she’s very charming and personable in variety shows. She’s naturally very humble and friendly.
She known for being pretty dumb also all her variety show she is feel kind of uneducated too,thats why she is most criticized in china. her doing a show just after she get better abouut her depression, dead grandfather is also very depressing yo chinese viewers. I kinda now think her Whole hospitalization issue is purely drama, or fake,she is good after resting for 20 days.