'Kung Fu Hustle' star Huang Shengyi opens up about stifling marriage

By Nhu Anh   October 21, 2024 | 03:16 am PT
Chinese actress Huang Shengyi, known for her role in "Kung Fu Hustle," recently revealed on a TV show that her marriage to actor-turned-businessman Yang Zi feels more like a business relationship than a romantic one.

Appearing on "Goodbye My Love 4," which aired on Oct. 17, Huang shared that for the past decade, her career has been managed by Yang's company, with decisions about her professional life being made without her input. Contracts were often signed on her behalf, leaving her little choice but to comply.

Kung Fu Hustle star actress Huang Shengyi. Photo courtesy of Huangs Weibo

"Kung Fu Hustle" star actress Huang Shengyi. Photo courtesy of Huang's Weibo

Huang recounted a particularly difficult experience last year when Yang signed her up for the reality show "Sisters Who Make Waves," despite a conflict with her film schedule. This forced her to juggle shooting movies during the day and rehearsing at night, leading to exhaustion and missed rehearsals that affected her team’s performance.

In addition to professional frustrations, Huang expressed disappointment with Yang's lack of involvement in raising their two sons. She revealed that Yang had never taken their children to a playground, leaving her to handle all parenting responsibilities.

Huang said she had attempted multiple times to communicate her feelings to Yang but had been unsuccessful. "To me, he's my husband. But to him, I'm just an employee," she confessed.

When asked what Yang feared losing the most, Huang humorously responded, "Money," and added that his favorite flower was "the flower of money." She also admitted she didn’t enjoy livestreaming to sell products but participated because Yang insisted.

Huang also recalled a past incident where Yang publicly belittled her and other celebrities for being "poorly educated." When asked if she was included in that statement, Yang nonchalantly replied: "The earlier someone enters the entertainment industry, the less educated they tend to be—so there's no reason to be upset about it."

Reflecting on their relationship, Huang shared that while Yang made her feel secure when they first met, he was never her ideal partner.

Chinese actress Huang Shengyi and actor-turned-businessman husband, Yang Zi. Photo from Weibo

Chinese actress Huang Shengyi and actor-turned-businessman husband, Yang Zi. Photo from Weibo

Yang characterized his wife’s comments as lacking appreciation for the lifestyle she has, and acknowledged that their marriage isn’t as flawless as it seems on social media. "We share sweet photos and family videos online, but in truth, our relationship is filled with minor conflicts that have accumulated over time," he explained.

He noted their different lifestyles as a major issue—Huang prefers an early bedtime, while Yang stays up all night. When they argued, Yang would often spend the night in a separate apartment.

In 2022, the couple separated and blocked each other on social media, but they have since reconciled. Yang admitted that Huang wanted him to change, but he resisted altering his habits. "I don’t like changing my habits."

Huang, who became famous through "Kung Fu Hustle," has starred in several films and TV dramas, including "Sword Stained with Royal Blood" and "The Sorcerer and the White Snake." She has also pursued a singing career.

The couple, who share two sons, secretly married in 2007 but only publicly confirmed their marriage in 2015. Yang explained that he kept the marriage private to allow his child from a previous marriage to have a normal upbringing.

 
 
go to top