Cecilia Cheung breaks down in court

Hong Kong actress Cecilia Cheung. Photo from Cecilia Cheung's Studio's Weibo

Cheung appeared in court on Monday for the second hearing of the case, which involves her collaboration with Yu and AEG Entertainment from 2011 until before 2019. Some media outlets were allowed to attend but were prohibited from taking photos or videos.

According to St Headline, Yu’s lawyers pressed Cheung with rapid-fire questions, focusing on inconsistencies in her testimony. At one point, she lost her composure, crying loudly and saying: "I haven’t been able to sleep for days. This is so unfair, I’m under too much pressure, everything feels fake."

The presiding judge gave Cheung time to compose herself and asked if she could continue with the proceedings, to which she replied, "Yes." Throughout the hearing, she frequently answered "I don’t remember" when questioned about specific contract details.

The lawsuit, filed in 2020, claims that Yu spent more than HK$40 million (US$5.1 million) to sign a contract with Cheung when they first collaborated, requiring her to star in six films produced by AEG Entertainment. In 2012, Yu and Cheung signed an additional contract for two more films, with the production company paying Cheung HK$2.8 million in advance.

Yu alleges that Cheung failed to fulfill the agreement, expressing disappointment and accusing her of being "ungrateful and treacherous." He is seeking at least HK$13 million in compensation.

In court, Cheung stated that in 2014, Yu allegedly forged documents and signed contracts with another company in his own name as her manager without consulting her. She also denied that Yu had ever been her manager.

Cheung further claimed that during their collaboration, Yu repeatedly threatened her, saying he would "destroy" her career if she did not comply. She became emotional in court, recalling that she was young at the time and feared she would "have to retire young" if Yu intended to harm her.

The dispute between Cheung and Yu has lasted for years. Yu previously posted a song on social media attacking Cheung, with lyrics suggesting mistrust.

Cheung, 45, entered the entertainment industry in 1999 with Stephen Chow’s film "King of Comedy." She gained further fame through "Shaolin Soccer," "Love Undercover," and "Kung Fu Chefs."

Her private life has also drawn considerable attention. She was married to Hong Kong actor Nicholas Tse and has two sons from that marriage. After their divorce in 2011, Cheung became a single mother. In 2018, she gave birth to a third son, keeping the father’s identity private.