Vicki Zhao made a surprise appearance in a livestream, and a moment where she “kissed the female host on the cheek” quickly sparked heated discussion online.

(Beijing, Feb 1) Chinese actress 趙薇 (Zhao Wei) has remained out of the public spotlight since being classified as a “problematic artist” by authorities in August 2021. More than four years later, the reasons behind her blacklisting continue to be debated, and recent developments suggest her return may still be unlikely.

In a recent winery livestream, Zhao Wei briefly appeared on camera, leaned in, kissed the female host on the cheek, and quickly exited. The moment lasted only a few seconds but quickly spread online. Shortly afterward, the livestream was abruptly cut off, and the related account was reportedly banned, with no replay or official statement released.

According to overseas media reports, Zhao Wei had quietly appeared in the livestream earlier that month while a host was promoting products. During the broadcast, she suddenly approached the host for a cheek kiss, prompting mixed reactions online—some viewers found the gesture awkward, while others saw it as harmless affection between close friends.

Livestream cut after 10 minutes

This was not Zhao Wei’s first attempt to reappear via livestream. In the early hours of New Year’s Eve 2026, she unexpectedly joined her own livestream channel. Well-prepared in makeup and styling, her appearance briefly boosted sales. During the session, she appeared enthusiastic, hugging and leaning close to the host. However, after roughly ten minutes, the screen abruptly went dark and the stream was shut down.

Following the incident, Zhao Wei reportedly sent voice messages to fans, sounding hoarse as she repeatedly said that such livestream connections would no longer be possible.

On January 26, Zhao Wei reposted a statement by her brother 趙健 (Zhao Jian), who addressed recent online rumors and defamatory content targeting her. He stated that legal action had already been taken against multiple parties and named blogger 姬永鋒 for spreading false claims related to alleged “illegal financial ties.”

Zhao Jian criticized certain self-media outlets for exploiting Zhao Wei as a source of traffic and vowed to continue pursuing legal action against all infringing parties. Fans responded with messages of support, to which Zhao Wei personally replied, explaining that the legal process is ongoing and requires time.