Actress Eva Huang and Husband Yang Zi Admit to Marital Woes
Chinese actress Eva Huang Shengyi has publicly confirmed the marital difficulties she is experiencing with her husband, actor-entrepreneur Yang Zi. The couple's struggles have become a focal point of discussion, especially following their appearance in the fourth season of the reality show See You Again, which premiered on October 17. The show features three couples facing marriage crises embarking on an 18-day road trip together, with an observation team of celebrities providing commentary.
Huang, 41, gained fame for her role in the 2004 action-comedy film Kung Fu Hustle, directed by Stephen Chow. She is also known for her performances in the fantasy romance drama Fairy Couple (2007) alongside Yang and as the legendary snake spirit in The Sorcerer And The White Snake (2011). The couple married in 2007 and has two sons, aged seven and twelve. They were previously seen as a model couple in the Chinese entertainment industry, often appearing together on various variety shows.
However, reports of their marital issues first surfaced during the Qixi Festival, also known as Chinese Valentine’s Day, on August 4, 2022. At that time, both Huang and Yang posted cryptic messages on their Weibo accounts that resembled poetry, leading netizens to speculate about their separation.
During their time on See You Again, the couple's interactions painted a stark contrast to their previously perceived image. They appeared distant and acted like strangers upon arriving at their lodging. Yang acknowledged their separation, stating, “Yes, it’s true, we were separated at that time. We have no interactions on social media and are not aware of what is happening to each other.”
In a question-and-answer segment on the show, the couple struggled to answer questions about each other, with Yang scoring only 14 out of 100 and Huang scoring 47. Yang attributed their relationship breakdown to differing living habits, explaining that Huang goes to bed at 10 PM while he often stays up until 4 or 5 AM. This discrepancy led to conflicts, particularly when he would return home late and disturb her sleep.
Huang, however, pointed to a deeper issue: Yang's absence in their children's upbringing. She expressed frustration, stating, “The biggest issue is taking care of the children. As they grow up, I can’t do all the things by myself. He has never accompanied the children to the playground or on holidays. It’s all on me.” She described their relationship as more akin to that of working partners rather than a married couple, noting that Yang often acted as her manager and expected her to follow his directives.
Huang recounted a specific incident during the first season of Sisters Who Make Waves in 2020, where Yang accepted a project on her behalf that conflicted with her show schedule, leaving her with no say in the matter. This decision led to tensions with her teammates, who were surprised that she had no control over her work commitments.
In a trailer for See You Again, Huang admitted that she had been contemplating divorce for the third consecutive year. Yang candidly remarked, “Shengyi and I seem to have a successful marriage as seen from the outside world, but it is a mess in reality.”
The revelations from Eva Huang and Yang Zi highlight the complexities of their relationship, which has been under public scrutiny for years. As they navigate their marital challenges, their candid discussions on See You Again provide insight into the struggles many couples face, particularly in balancing personal and professional lives. The couple's journey serves as a reminder of the importance of communication and partnership in maintaining a healthy relationship.