Actor Yu Shi dropped from national broadcast amid allegations of cheating on 9-year-older former girlfriend

Chinese actor Yu Shi. Photo from Yu's Weibo

Citing Sinchew, Znews reported that Yu, 28, announced via social media at the end of August that he had traveled to his hometown in Liaoning in northeastern China to participate in the recording of the event, where he was slated to sing.

However, CCTV’s latest list of performers, released Monday, did not include Yu. Sources indicated that his removal was due to recent allegations of infidelity during his romantic relationship with Zhang.

The rumors surfaced after Zhang, 37, appeared on the talk show "I Have a Friend" earlier this month, where she shared a story about "a friend" whose younger boyfriend had been unfaithful, according to Yahoo! Life Singapore. Many speculated that Zhang was referring to her own experience with Yu, with whom she was linked in 2022.

In response, Yu’s management company released a statement on Sunday denying the accusations.

"The information about Yu Shi circulating on social media is false," it declared.

The statement also mentioned that the company had engaged a lawyer to address derogatory comments directed at Yu and urged the public to stop spreading unfounded rumors.

Yu joined South Korea-based entertainment company SM Entertainment as a trainee after competing in the singing competition "Chinese Idol" in 2014, but did not make his debut as a K-pop idol.

He returned to China and gained fame with his role in the 2023 Chinese epic fantasy film "Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms."