Leila Tong’s Depression Revealed by Manager

(Above) In a recent short clip posted, Leila in dressed a light-colored hoodie with a backpack, sunglasses on, gripping a tall seaside railing with both hands, while leisurely gazing up at the azure sky, with the background music set to singer Umiii’s song “You Are Enough Today”.

The 44-year-old former child star Leila Tong (唐寧) has maintained a friendly image since emigrating to New Zealand in 2019. However, her management company recently suddenly filed a lawsuit against her in the High Court for breach of contract. The writ alleges that she lost emotional control, claiming she suffers from major depression and Type B personality traits, and that she had previously self-harmed with a knife and threatened her manager with one.

Appears Unfazed

Leila faces a lawsuit by Tin San Chuen Music Limited, which holds her 10-year management contract expiring in 2028. According to the case details, during the period when the plaintiff company’s sole director and manager, Cheng Pui-ying (鄭珮瑩), was living with Leila in New Zealand, the latter exhibited a series of extreme manipulative and self-harming behaviors.

In late 2021, Leila ran away from home with a rope after being asked to submit a work proposal, staying out all night. In December of the same year, she suddenly rushed into the kitchen, stabbed herself twice in the abdomen with a fruit knife, and gave her manager an eerie smile.

Another incident occurred in January 2022, when the manager woke up in the morning to find Leila pointing a knife at her. Leila claimed at the time that she was trying hard to control herself from “killing Cheng and committing suicide.” By September of the same year, the star was formally diagnosed with major depressive disorder and Type B personality traits. The plaintiff alleges that whenever constructive suggestions were given, Leila would continuously scream and self-harm, ultimately leaving the manager to complete work on her behalf.

Bypassing the Company to Take on Private Work

Leila also face allegations that all content on her social media platforms between November 2021 and May 2024 was in substance entirely handled by the manager, who devoted considerable effort to it, resulting in Leila receiving unjust enrichment.

However, the company accuses Leila of suddenly “turning against” them starting in May this year, bypassing the company to take on commercial work on her own, refusing to let the company access her social media accounts and business email, and violating the image provisions in the contract by dyeing her hair purple and gray without authorization and hiring a new manager.

The plaintiff now seeks a court order declaring the management contract still valid, and requiring Leila to return 50% of the income earned from privately arranged work and to pay substantial damages.

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