Chinese actress Vicki Zhao spotted interacting with fans at airport after long absence

On July 24, new photos of Zhao, the star from the 1998-1999 Chinese hit TV show “My Fair Princess”, were widely shared on Weibo and fan pages.

According to Sina, Zhao Wei was returning to Beijing from her trip to Yunnan, China. When paparazzi asked why she was traveling alone, she responded, “For the freedom and comfort.”

Some fans questioned Zhao about her lack of luggage, to which she laughed and replied, “I think it will make me look cooler.” As she exited the airport, she reminded the paparazzi not to photograph her car’s license plate.

Since the beginning of the week, many entertainment bloggers have speculated that Zhao and her husband, Singaporean businessman Huang Youlong, have finalized their divorce two years after filing. Neither Zhao nor Huang has addressed the speculation.

Chinese actress Vicki Zhao and husband Huang Youlong. Photo from Weibo

Zhao’s last public appearance was at a Fendi event in July 2021, where she served as the brand’s spokesperson in China. All series and movies featuring her were removed from video platforms the following month, and her name vanished from movie awards portals. Brands she represented also purged or hid any content related to her on China’s social media platform Weibo.

Baidu indicates that the ban imposed on Zhao is a common practice in China’s entertainment and sports industries, which prohibits individuals from working in these sectors due to violations of moral or legal codes. Social media also scrubs any content associated with such celebrities. Other Chinese entertainers, including singer Kris Wu, actress Zheng Shuang, and singer Zhang Zhehan, have faced similar bans in recent years.

Official reasons for Zhao’s alleged ban remain undisclosed.

Chinese actress Vicki Zhao. Photo from her Instagram

Zhao, 48, was considered one of China’s “Four Dan Actresses,” a term referring to the four most financially successful young actresses from Mainland China. She is among a limited number of female Chinese artists who have excelled in film, television, and music, according to Xinhua.

Zhao ventured into business in 1999 by establishing multi-industry companies. Alongside her husband, Singaporean businessman Huang Youlong, she amassed an estimated wealth of 4.5 billion yuan (US$625 million) by 2019, ranking 912th on economy and finance news platform Hurun’s China Rich List.