Hong Kong actress Cecilia Cheung to sue former manager over defamation claims

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

Cheung released her statement on June 2, revealing plans to file a lawsuit against Yu and a social media profile believed to be associated with him, seeking both compensation and a public apology, as reported by Singaporean media outlet 8days.

The statement further warned of potential legal consequences for any media outlets that propagate the song containing Yu’s defamatory statements. It also refuted Yu’s claims as both unfounded and slanderous, noting that they have adversely affected Cheung’s reputation.

It countered Yu’s claims by highlighting that in 2014, as her manager, he signed a contract without her approval. Cheung subsequently sent a lawyer’s notice to the relevant parties.

As reported by Sohu, earlier this month, Yu targeted Cheung by releasing a song on social media titled "In the Name of the Dog." The song hinted at someone who was "not innocent," ostracized, and unfaithful to their promises.

He later justified his grievances with Cheung and explained the song’s title to Yiyu. Reminiscing about Cheung’s declining career and public image post her 2011 divorce from Hong Kong actor Nicholas Tse, Yu said the actress sought his support, pledging "loyalty like a dog to its master," which moved him.

Yu reported investing HK$40 million (US$5.1 million) into a contract with Cheung in 2011. Describing the investment as a substantial financial commitment for him at that time, Yu said the contract stipulated that Cheung would star in four films produced by his company.

In the subsequent year, they entered into another agreement for two more films, for which Yu’s company compensated Cheung nearly HK$2.8 million upfront.

Yu expressed his dissatisfaction, stating that Cheung breached their agreements, criticizing her for being "ungrateful and burning the bridge after crossing it." He also demanded she reimburse the HK$40 million he invested and pay for breaching the contract, emphasizing that this sum was his hard-earned money.

Cheung, 44, is celebrated for her roles in "The Lion Roars," "King of Comedy," and "The Promise."

She married Tse, 44, in 2006. They divorced in 2011 after having two sons.

In 2018, Cheung welcomed her third son and has since maintained privacy over the father’s identity, sparking considerable speculation. Media tycoon Sun Donghai was rumored to be the father, but he refuted these allegations in September last year and threatened to sue those spreading such rumors.

Speculation about Cheung expecting a fourth child has also arisen, though she has not addressed these rumors.

Prior to her dispute with Yu, Cheung had disagreements with other managers—Hong Kong producer couple Tiffany Chen and Charles Heung—who in 2015 criticized her for unprofessional behavior, such as not adhering to the filming schedule and failing to manage her temperament during production. They stated they would no longer collaborate with Cheung in their films.

Cheung has not publicly commented on these allegations.