Chinese movie and TV star Yu Menglong died after falling from an apartment balcony in September 2025, but a new viral video has led to a number of bizarre theories about his death.
The star was best known for his roles in epic period dramas like Eternal Love and The Legend of the White Snake, and he most recently appeared in this year’s Xia Ke Xing Bu Tong and Lin Jiang Xian.
Shortly after his death, numerous theories swirled online claiming that Yu was assaulted before being thrown off the balcony, others claimed he was tortured before being killed — but three people admitted to fabricating the rumors, BBC China reported.
The actor’s death has whipped true crime fans up into a frenzy online because of these sinister theories, which later escalated when a viral video appeared to show someone moving his body in an underground car park. So here’s what happened to Yu Menglong.
Yu Menglong died after a party
Yu was found dead on September 11, 2025, after falling from a balcony in the Chaoyang District of Beijing. There was no clear indication he was murdered.
HK01 reported that the authorities did not believe foul play was involved in his death and ruled out any criminal involvement. He and several friends were at a party, and witnesses claimed that he locked himself in a bedroom at 2am, and his body was found early in the morning.
Afterward, rumors started to swirl about videos appearing to show a silhouette behind a window screen struggling, alongside audio about getting a USB from Yu’s body. Others debated whether Yu was sexually assaulted before his death, and questioned whether he was being silenced for having compromising information about the entertainment industry.
But on September 16, the actor’s mother issued a statement on Weibo saying that it was an accidental fall “due to drinking.”
Was Yu Menglong’s body moved in secret to Qihao Art Museum?
There is no concrete evidence that Yu Menglong’s body has been secretly moved.
In October, a report from Secret China claimed that Yu’s body was moved in the middle of the night, referring to a video in which a body was apparently being placed in the trunk of a car. Commenters claimed that plane sounds could be heard in the background, and that an unknown man says that he’s moving Yu’s body.
Then, a post circulated online (although it’s not clear if it originated on Weibo or elsewhere) which claimed that Yu’s body had become part of a a twisted art installation, and that his mother was given fake remains.
The post reads: “Our Dr. Kitagawa used the latest biological plastination technology to preserve that final expression of fear and defiance. It’s the most beautiful artwork I’ve ever seen. Want to see it? Go to the Kihao Art Museum in Beijing — in the private collection room. If you’re lucky, you might see him. Oh, and Qiao Renliang is there too. They’re neighbors now.”
Whether the post is legitimate or not remains to be seen, but there has been no official reports that Yu’s body was moved to the Qihao Art Museum in a ritualistic manner.
Was Yu Menglong sacrificed for President Xi Jingping?
There is no evidence that Yu Menglong was sacrificed for President Xi Jingping
The Secret China report also claimed that Yu was actually sacrificed for Xi because they share the same birthday: June 15. It cites a feng shui expert, Ma Xian, who claimed Yu was “sacrificed to extend the ruler’s life.”
There is no hard evidence to back up these claims, aside from a random allegation that a man in one of Yu’s last videos looked similar to Xi’s brother, Xi Yuanping.
Was Yu Menglong murdered to cover up corruption?
The Chinese authorities do not believe Yu Menglong was murdered.
On September 21, Chinese authorities released a notice debunking the numerous corruption rumors that people were feverishly discussing online, according to BBC. These notices are typically issued so that the general public will stop discussing a case.
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