After withdrawing from the entertainment industry, Zheng Shuang’s name has become synonymous with debt. She has been sued by production teams for compensation and losses and even labeled as a defaulter with debts amounting to nearly $14 million. Despite the mounting debts, Zheng Shuang seems to be unaffected by her financial obligations.
Recently, one of Zheng Shuang’s creditors, Zhang Fan, stepped forward for an interview, sharing his story of attempting to collect debts from Zheng Shuang and revealing many industry secrets that have left people feeling sympathetic. Zhang Fan, compared to the average person, is well-off, having invested $4.2 million in the TV series “The Ultimate Secret” starring Zheng Shuang. He was optimistic about the project, seeing it as a surefire investment with a return of over 50%. He even took over the investment share through an acquaintance’s introduction.
Looking back, Zhang Fan’s investment in 2018 hinged on the key factor of a “spy drama starring a popular celebrity.” Unfortunately, his investment turned out to be a naively mistaken trust in the so-called traffic economy of the entertainment industry. Zhang Fan soon paid the price for his blind faith, as Zheng Shuang’s career collapsed.
The signs were there during the shooting of “The Ultimate Secret.” Zheng Shuang, one of the main actors, often disappeared without a trace, leaving the production team helplessly waiting and wasting money. Despite this, everyone, including the investors, refrained from criticizing Zheng Shuang, treating her delicately to some extent, fostering the negative atmosphere prevalent in the industry.
Initially, Zhang Fan and others did not consider suing but discussed a compensation plan with Zheng Shuang’s family. The plan involved Zheng Shuang bearing the cost of recasting or changing roles, along with a cash compensation of $4.2 million and a used Rolls-Royce. Even at this stage of claiming damages, there was a habitual tendency to “pamper” the stars.
Zheng Shuang’s refusal to pay further compensation resulted in the used luxury car being sold for only $980,000. Attempts to contact Zheng Shuang were met with rejection, and the only response received was, “Stop contacting me; (Zheng Shuang) has gone to the United States for a lawsuit!”
Zhang Fan alone invested $4.2 million in “The Ultimate Secret.” Due to Zheng Shuang’s actions, the entire production’s investment was wasted. Zheng Shuang, who received a daily salary of $280,000, left for the United States without addressing the concerns of Zhang Fan and others. According to court rulings, her total debt amounts to $16.8 million.
$16.8 million in debt! Just for one TV series, Zhang Fan’s $4.2 million was part of it. As one of Zheng Shuang’s creditors, he embarked on a long journey to the United States to collect the debt. After much effort, he found where Zheng Shuang was staying only to discover she had already left. Despite eventually locating her, face-to-face resolution was impossible. He had to rely on intermediaries to convey messages, only to receive a dismissive response from Zheng Shuang, “Don’t talk to me about this.”
During the child custody trial involving Zheng Shuang, Zhang Fan learned that Zheng Shuang was financially capable. Her assets alone exceeded $32.2 million, making it easy for her to repay the entire $16.8 million debt. Yet, Zheng Shuang showed no willingness to repay promptly. Even with legal implications looming for refusal to pay despite being able, Zheng Shuang seemed indifferent. To date, she has yet to fulfill debts amounting to $5.4 million, which includes a portion owed to Zhang Fan.
In December 2023, Zheng Shuang’s studio announced her willingness to cooperate and formulate a reasonable repayment plan, criticizing those creating and capitalizing on controversies and stirring conflicts between her and the creditors. This is a classic case of deflecting blame onto others.
Regardless of Zheng Shuang’s response, one fact is undeniable: she has caused financial and emotional harm to many. Zhang Fan, who invested $4.2 million, now bears a debt of $1.96 million due to Zheng Shuang’s failure to repay. His assets are frozen, strained relationships due to borrowed money, and family members are constantly worried about covering debt collection costs.
Moreover, Zhang Fan’s personal information was somehow leaked, leading to harassment calls from Zheng Shuang’s fans, accusing him as if his debt collection efforts were a heinous act.
Ultimately, the hope remains that Zheng Shuang will swiftly settle her debts, and the entertainment industry will purge itself of the excessive adulation of traffic and stars.
