Chinese actress Vicki Zhao, labeled as a “tainted celebrity,” has laid low for about four years. Recently, she’s been frequently appearing on social media, seemingly testing the waters for a comeback, and even boldly showed up in a live stream. However, within just a few minutes, the platform banned her. After the incident, state media harshly criticized the online and offline comebacks of tainted celebrities, making it clear that Zhao’s plan to “be reborn online” is completely hopeless now. Some netizens have suggested that she follow in Fan Bingbing’s footsteps and try her luck in the overseas film industry, where she may have a sliver of hope.
Previously, Zhao had often joined live streams from her own winery, where the female host joked that fans were as happy as if it were New Year’s when they heard Zhao’s voice. Zhao replied, “If I come every day, then every day would be like New Year’s, and there wouldn’t be anything left worth celebrating. Let’s only join on special days.” The host then praised her singing, and Zhao lamented that she still hasn’t had the chance to perform, promising, “As long as we’re still alive, everyone just lives a little longer, we’ll get the chance.” She also said that many people who love her are here, and that a place with love is where people most want to be—hinting at her desire to return to the public eye.
Seeing as her previous live connections received positive feedback, on the night of December 30, 2025, Zhao made a sudden, unexpected appearance in a live stream. This time, she was noticeably more high-profile, wearing refined makeup and carefully dressed up. Zhao’s appearance temporarily boosted sales, and she was very high-spirited throughout, even hugging the female host, pressing her head to hers, and kissing her cheek, displaying unusually intimate behavior that sparked heated discussion online. But soon after, the screen abruptly went black—the live stream had been banned.
Afterwards, Zhao comforted fans in a group chat with a recorded voice message, saying she won’t be able to join live streams like that anymore. Sources say the ban wasn’t because of the display of intimacy, but because, as a tainted celebrity, Zhao is not allowed to appear publicly. Attempting to return to the spotlight is simply asking for trouble.
News source: On.cc