Behind the glamour of the entertainment industry lies a story few dare to tell — a story of pain, betrayal, and the harsh control wielded over some of China’s brightest stars. For Yu Menglong, what should have been a promising career became a nightmare of injury, manipulation, and financial imprisonment.
A Life on the Line: The Fall That Shook Everything
During a film shoot, Yu Menglong plummeted from a third-floor height when his safety harness snapped. He suffered multiple fractures all over his body, an incident that could have easily ended his life.
In the world of fantasy and martial arts filming, micropressure wires are used to make actors fly. But when these wires fail, the consequences are catastrophic. Despite the severity of the accident, Tianyu Media publicly denied that Yu was injured. Only when a leaked video surfaced did the company admit the truth but even then, their response was cold, indifferent, and heartless.
Even the way they treated Yu’s fans reflected their callousness. Instead of support, there was suppression and erasure.
The Sudden Erasure of Yu Menglong’s Fan Community:
On January 6, 2018, Yu Menglong’s global official fan club announced its permanent closure, dissolving all local fan groups worldwide.
Sources revealed that Alan’s studio after just two years of cooperation….claimed it could “no longer control” the fan club and even denied its existence, calling it “fake.” But the truth is staggering: this fan club had been founded before Alan’s studio even existed.
Worse still, both studios registered under Yu’s name were reportedly set up by Tianyu Media for money laundering, not for nurturing his career. The very people meant to protect and manage him instead betrayed him at every turn.
A Contract Designed to ENSLAVE:
The root of Yu Menglong’s torment lies in the contract he signed with Tianyu Media, a document so ruthless it strips an artist of autonomy, dignity, and freedom.
Journalist Li Muyang reported that the contract, leaked by Beijing director Qi Lili, revealed a terrifying truth: it was less a management agreement and more a captive pact.
Clauses That Shackle the Artist:
Clause 3.1.3 — Tianyu Media retains the right to use the artist’s name, image, voice, and biography indefinitely, even after the contract ends.
Clause 3.1.10 — All of the artist’s creative works and rights worldwide permanently belong to Tianyu Media or its designated third parties.
Clause 3.1.20 — Tianyu Media can open and manage the artist’s social media accounts, keeping all revenue for themselves.
Clause 3.1.21 — The company monitors every artistic move, imposing triple damages for any income discrepancies.
Clause 3.2.11 — The artist must obey all work assignments, paid or unpaid, with no right to refuse.
Clauses 4.2.1–4.2.2 — Profit-sharing favors Tianyu Media 70% to 30%, leaving the artist with a fraction of their own earnings.
A Punishment That Crushes Dreams:
The financial penalties for trying to leave this contract are astronomical. Unlike normal calculations, Tianyu Media uses multiplication, not addition.
Using journalist Li Muyang’s example:
If the artist’s highest monthly income was 20,000 yuan, multiplied by 12 months = 240,000 yuan per year.
With two years remaining: 240,000 × 2 = 480,000 yuan.
Add a 200,000 yuan project penalty, and Tianyu Media claims 144,000,000 yuan in damages — nearly $19.7 million USD.
An overseas source revealed that Yu cannot leave the company because the penalty could reach 200,000,000 yuan, around $27.5 million USD. The system is designed to ensnare talent indefinitely, using fear and financial ruin as a leash.
The Human Cost of Exploitation:
Yu Menglong’s story is a stark reminder that behind the cameras, the lights, and the applause, some artists endure unspeakable suffering.
The accident, the erased fan clubs, the inescapable contract…. all of it shows a relentless system built to exploit human lives. Tianyu Media could dictate his work, his image, his earnings, and even the very way he interacts with fans, leaving Yu powerless to resist.
This is not just a tale of corporate greed. It is a human tragedy, a vivid warning about the dark side of fame, where ambition and talent can be held hostage by those entrusted to guide them.
A Call for Awareness and Reform:
The leaked contract has sparked outrage and renewed demands for artist protection and industry reform.
Yu Menglong’s ordeal is not an isolated incident; it highlights a systematic problem that continues to exploit young artists under the guise of “management.” Until changes are made, countless performers may remain trapped, voiceless, and exploited, their dreams leveraged for profit.
If this is truly the contract, then anyone who signed with Tianyu Media was essentially bound to a modern-day slave contract — for all eternity. Alan’s contract was nearing its expiration before he passed. I am certain that, under normal circumstances, had he been alive, he would never have renewed it.
cr: china insider
