Chinese short drama actor Zhong Yufei, 23, has alleged serious on-set harassment during the production of a 50-episode series that was intended to be his breakthrough role. According to his recent social media posts, the abuse came from his female co-star, who was also the sole financial backer of the project.
The investor reportedly imposed two conditions for funding the series: she would play the female lead, and she would retain final authority over the script. This arrangement gave her unchecked control over production, as the crew could not risk her withdrawing financial support. Directors and staff who objected to her creative decisions were overruled.
The approved script contained more than sixty kissing scenes. When crew members warned that the excessive intimacy would disrupt narrative pacing and risk regulatory violations, the investor dismissed their concerns, reportedly stating she had seen more short dramas than they had ever produced.
Zhong, who had previously held only supporting roles, described being shocked during the filming of their first romantic scene when his co-star initiated a forceful French kiss. He said she grabbed the back of his head to prevent him from pulling away. Despite the violation, he remained silent, fearing the loss of his career opportunity and noting that other crew members appeared to ignore the behavior.
The series ultimately failed to secure distribution. Producer Meng Xing confirmed that the streaming platform rejected the completed episodes during post-production review, citing excessive explicit content that violated content regulations. Meng added that the production team had virtually no decision-making power, as every major choice rested with the investor-actress.
The revelations have sparked widespread discussion on Chinese social media platforms, with users condemning what they describe as a pattern of powerful financiers exploiting financial leverage to turn film sets into environments where young performers face coercion with little recourse. The case has renewed calls for stronger workplace protections in the rapidly expanding short drama industry, where low-budget, high-volume production models often operate with minimal oversight.
