Chinese actor Jin Ze, who died at the age of 33 on June 2, is at the centre of online controversy after newly circulated screenshots and chat logs alleged he had experienced extreme overwork and sexual assault. The claims, which remain unverified, were reportedly shared by his ex-girlfriend on June 13.
Li Zifeng, the CEO of Hecai Culture and Media — a company involved in co-producing the 2025 film The Sun Rises on Us All — released what she said were private chat records dating back to 2022. The materials include alleged voice-to-text messages attributed to Jin, in which he described being repeatedly summoned to social gatherings linked to the entertainment industry.
In one alleged message, the sender wrote: “It’s impossible to avoid this in society. How can I avoid these things? When I was at [an entertainment company], I went to [a streaming platform] to accompany [names of the men] and those gay men. Who can understand the suffering I endured?”
The same set of messages also contained claims of physical coercion, including: “He forced me to get on my knees, bit me and dragged me to the bed. How can I explain that?”
Netizens have speculated that the unnamed individuals referenced in the messages may be senior figures in major Chinese entertainment companies, though no evidence has been provided to support these claims.
In separate alleged chat logs, Jin reportedly told Li that he felt “close to death” due to an intense filming schedule, claiming he worked from 6am to midnight on a daily basis. According to publicly available production listings, he appeared in seven series released between 2025 and 2026, including multiple micro-dramas exceeding 60 episodes each. Three additional projects remain unreleased.
The allegations have sparked widespread discussion online, with some users calling for an investigation into working conditions within China’s fast-growing short-form drama industry and broader entertainment sector.
In a post shared by Li, she wrote: “Jin Ze was being bullied and I didn’t look further into it. I should’ve been there for him and helped him.”
News of Jin Ze’s death first emerged on June 6 via a statement from his management agency, Shengshi Guangnian Culture Co. The agency said he died at his residence in Hangzhou on June 2 and requested the public avoid speculation about the cause of death.
“Please refrain from fabricating or spreading rumours and do not speculate on his cause of death. Let us work together to preserve his dignity and remember him with respect,” the statement said.
Born in Weihai, Shandong province, Jin Ze — whose real name was Zhang Jiawei — began his career as a model after graduating from Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology. He later appeared on the 2016 programme I Can See Your Voice before transitioning into acting.
His screen credits include Hello, Joann (2019), Forget You, Remember Love (2020), and Legally Romance (2022).
Shengshi Guangnian Culture Co has not issued any further response to the newly circulated allegations.
