Former Chinese Girl Group Stars Sue Their Agency After NewJeans | Here’s What Happened

The Chinese idol industry is facing renewed scrutiny as two former members of the popular girl group SNH48, Wang Yi and Zhou Shiyu, have taken legal action against their former agency, Shanghai STAR48 Culture Media Group Co., Ltd. (SIBA Media). The move comes amid a broader wave of lawsuits within the Asian entertainment world, following recent disputes involving K-pop groups like NewJeans.

Wang Yi, who spent eight years with SNH48, announced her departure in May this year, publicly accusing her agency of repeated neglect and unfair treatment. “I ranked second – again and again – and still they ignored me. The reward for trying to be better was endless touring and cold shoulders,” Wang said, revealing that she had decided to sue the company for their

alleged mistreatment. She also described the management as “heartless,” claiming her dedication and performance were continuously overlooked.

A month later, in June, fellow member Zhou Shiyu announced that she had also severed ties with SIBA Media after seven years. She alleged withheld wages, lack of respect, and poor communication from the agency. Zhou stated that she had already appointed legal representation to terminate her contract, saying that her rights had been “repeatedly denied.” Reflecting on one of her final performances, Zhou described her solo birthday stage on March 15 as a deeply disappointing experience. “Even after getting results, I still couldn’t earn the basic respect,” she said, adding that the event left her feeling “invisible.”

According to publicly available court records, both lawsuits center around contractual disputes with SIBA Media. Zhou’s case is scheduled for hearing on November 19 at 3:30 p.m., followed by Wang’s case on November 24 at 9:00 a.m., both at the People’s Court of Hongkou District in Shanghai.