Chinese actress Zheng Shuang faces debt and health struggles in US

By Phong Ngo   November 18, 2024 | 09:13 pm PT
Chinese actress Zheng Shuang is grappling with debt and health issues while living in the U.S., with no one to turn to for support.

In a video shared on November 15, featuring her Shiba Inu dog but avoiding her own appearance, Zheng said she has been unwell and living in poor conditions without assistance. According to Znews, citing QQ, she mentioned her home hasn’t been cleaned in a long time, and even her dog has lost weight.

Initially, Zheng led a lavish lifestyle in the U.S., frequently sharing pictures of luxurious parties and vacations. However, unemployment and excessive spending plunged her into financial trouble. Earlier this year, Zheng reportedly faced threats from creditors, with some allegedly hiring criminal groups in the U.S. to pressure her for debt repayment.

Zheng has since adopted a more frugal lifestyle, using a three-year-old phone and appearing markedly different from her acting days. She was recently seen at a local diner in the U.S., where fans noticed her swollen face and thinning hair. On her 33rd birthday in August, she shared tearful photos of herself, showing a gaunt and exhausted appearance.

Chinese actress Zheng Zhuang. Photo from Zhengs Weibo

Chinese actress Zheng Zhuang. Photo from Zheng's Weibo

Zheng owes large sums to the production teams of "Jade Lover" and "Secret Keepers", projects that were halted due to her 2021 scandals involving surrogacy and tax evasion. As a result, the production teams filed lawsuits against her, seeking compensation.

Renwu Magazine reported that Zheng was ordered to pay 120 million yuan (US$17 million) to the "Secret Keepers" crew, while The Paper revealed a court mandate requiring her to pay 90.5 million yuan to the "Jade Lover" crew. In April, legal documents disclosed by Tianyancha declared Zheng bankrupt, revealing she had no assets. This sparked widespread speculation online about whether she had transferred assets to evade repayment.

Zheng was once a prominent actress in mainland China, gaining widespread fame for her portrayal of Chu Yuxun in the 2009-2010 television series "Meteor Shower".

In 2010, she made history as the youngest nominee for Best Actress at the China TV Golden Eagle Awards, according to the South China Morning Post.

However, her career took a sharp downturn in 2021 following major controversies involving surrogacy and tax evasion. That year, her former partner, producer Zhang Heng, alleged that Zheng had abandoned two children born via surrogacy in the U.S.

Additionally, she faced accusations of earning substantial income without paying taxes. Investigations uncovered that Zheng failed to report a personal income of 191 million yuan (US$26 million) between 2019 and 2020, resulting in tax evasion amounting to 45.27 million yuan.

 
 
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