Live Stream Banned Within Minutes Of Vicki Zhao Making An Appearance

It appears that Vicki Zhao’s attempt at a comeback has hit a roadblock.

The Chinese actress-director has largely stayed out of the public eye since being blacklisted by Chinese authorities in August 2021 for undisclosed reasons.

Earlier reports alleged that she and her ex-husband, China-born Singaporean businessman Huang Youlong, were involved in cross-border money laundering, while other speculation pointed to insider trading and market manipulation. None of these claims have been officially confirmed.

In recent months, however, Vicki, 49, has been increasingly visible online, posting more frequently on social media, a move widely interpreted as testing the waters for a possible return.  

She had also previously joined live streams from her own winery via voice-only appearances.

That changed around 2am on New Year’s Eve, when Vicki unexpectedly appeared in person during a live stream.

She was seen with polished makeup and a carefully styled look, and her sudden appearance briefly boosted sales.

During the live stream, she appeared visibly excited, hugging the female host and kissing her cheek. Their unusually close behaviour sparked discussions online.

However, less than 10 minutes later, the live stream abruptly went black — it had been banned.

Following the incident, Vicki reportedly sent voice messages to a fan group to reassure her supporters.

According to fans, her voice was hoarse as she repeatedly said: “I won’t be able to connect like this anymore.”

On January 19, China’s official media outlet Xinhua News Agency published an article calling for disgraced artistes who have attempted to make a comeback be left with no market and no traffic, stressing that the entertainment industry is not a “free playground” for the morally compromised to seek profit.

Addressing celebrities seeking to “revive through the internet,” the article urged platforms not to “play dead,” but instead abandon traffic-first thinking, optimise algorithm systems, strengthen review controls, improve reporting mechanisms, and swiftly remove content linked to problematic artistes and negative influences.

In the wake of Vicki’s live stream ban, some netizens have suggested she follow Fan Bingbing’s path by shifting her career overseas, where she may still find limited opportunities.

Like Vicki, Bingbing saw her career come to a halt after becoming embroiled in a tax evasion scandal in 2018, which led to her being banned from acting and producing in her home country.