Cecilia Cheung was sued by her former management agency and ex-manager in 2020 for allegedly breaching her contract. Photo: Cecilia Cheung/Instagram
Hong Kong actress Cecilia Cheung broke down in tears during a tense court hearing over an alleged breach of contract on Monday (Dec 8).
The 45-year-old arrived at the High Court at 8.30am, looking visibly anxious as she sifted through case documents.
For context, Cheung was sued in 2020 by her former agency Asia Entertainment Group (AEG) and ex-manager Yu Yuk-hing for supposedly failing to fulfill her contractual obligations.
They're seeking HK$12.76mil (RM6.8mil) in compensation after Cheung, who had received an advance payment of HK$41.76mil (RM22.1mil) to star in four films, allegedly failed to do so.
According to reports, Cheung struggled to maintain her composure during the hearing, as the plaintiff's lawyer pressed her on the specifics of the case.
At times, the actress couldn't recall certain details, occasionally drifting off topic or challenging the line of questioning.
The judge then intervened, instructing Cheung to refrain from questioning the lawyer and to answer only with a simple "agree" or "disagree".
As the questioning intensified, her emotions reached its peak, and she burst out: "I haven't slept in two days. This is so unfair to me!"
Cheung added that the presence of the media in court also placed an added pressure on her shoulders.
The outburst drew a moment of compassion from the judge, who explained that the repeated questions were intended only to ensure clarity.
When asked if she could continue, the actress took a moment to regain her composure before saying she could.
Regarding the dispute, Cheung affirmed that she hadn't personally overseen the contractual arrangements at issue.
She added that all contract-related matters were handled by her manager and personal assistant Emily Chow.
The defense also challenged the validity of the management contract, alleging that the signature was forged and didn't belong to Cheung.
