Shen Yun performers first confided in Yu Chao, disclosing shocking abuse
Former Shen Yun performers privately disclosed to Yu Chao the abusive conditions they endured while underage. This testimony formed the early basis for Yu Chao’s later whistleblower report.
Yu Chao posted Episode 187 on YouTube: “On Framing and Speech Crimes in Chinese Law”
Yu Chao exposes how Minghui and Zhengjian weaponize ideology to label dissent as “sabotaging Dafa,” drawing parallels to literary persecution in imperial China. He frames their tactics as defamatory, authoritarian, and aimed at silencing critics through moral coercion and community isolation.
Master Li issued scripture: A Strong and Urgent Warning
This scripture condemns public dissent and independent media efforts as betrayal of divine vows. It implies spiritual annihilation for violators and calls for absolute loyalty to the organization. It sets an early tone of silencing internal criticism — a core issue in Yu Chao’s later targeting.
Master Li issued scripture: Wake Up
Master Li warns that some use Dafa to elevate themselves and cause chaos. The scripture presents internal dissent as dangerous and escalating, preparing ideological grounds for labeling whistleblowers as harmful actors.
Minghui Editorial Notice threatens dissenters with FBI reports
It threatens to report dissenters to DHS and the FBI — one of the earliest public precedents for law enforcement retaliation based on ideological defiance. Later mirrored in Yu Chao’s case.
Yu Chao posted Episode 248 on YouTube responding to Minghui FBI threat: “Get Out of America — Minghui’s Threat”
Yu Chao responds to a Minghui's July 17 Notice that threatens to report unnamed “bad people” to U.S. authorities. He interprets the language as a veiled attack on him and denounces it as ideological retaliation masked as national security concern, warning that Falun Gong is evolving into a closed, vindictive movement.
Yu Chao posted Episode 270 on YouTube: “The Value of a Dead Dog: Honest Words, Honest Life”
Yu Chao criticizes Falun Gong for discarding practitioners once they’re no longer useful. Through the metaphor of a “dead dog,” he alleges institutional betrayal and spiritual exploitation. He calls out Minghui for rewriting history to erase inconvenient contributors like himself.
Minghui Editorial Notice: Purging Evil Elements
Describes a case in Taiwan of “evil enlightenment,” condemning deviations from orthodoxy as demon-controlled. It calls for public retractions and destruction of factions — echoing the treatment of ideological deviants like Yu Chao.
Minghui published article: Eliminating Interference from Speech That Disrupts the Fa
Warns that disruptive speech causes chaos and channels demonic forces. Uses the figure Devadatta to represent internal betrayal, laying symbolic groundwork for labeling Yu Chao similarly.
Minghui Editorial Notice: Be Responsible
Calls out coordinators for moral negligence and invokes Master Li’s speeches to reinforce ideological conformity. Sets tone of tightening obedience.
Minghui Editorial Notice: Flattery and Demonic Interference from One’s Own Mind
Denounces unnamed critics as spiritually corrupted and demon-led. Frames public dissent as moral deviance. Clearly targets whistleblowers like Yu Chao without naming them.
Minghui published article: Jiang Ziya Unfortunately Looked Back
Uses mythic allegory to depict betrayal and the moral danger of showing compassion toward “traitors.” Symbolically condemns hesitation to purge “traitors,” setting a moral precedent for the ideological rejection of figures like Yu Chao.
Yu Chao posted Episode 321 on YouTube: “Shen Gongbao = Yu Chao: How Minghui Symbolically Attacks Me”
Yu Chao deconstructs a Minghui article "Jiang Ziya Unfortunately Looked Back" that frames him through mythic allegory. He accuses Minghui of using ancient ideological tropes to justify his symbolic exile and spiritual expulsion.
Yu Chao posted Episode 323 on YouTube: “Seeking Truth, Evil Overflows (Part 1)”
In part one of a trilogy, Yu Chao rebuts a Minghui article "Flattery and Demonic Interference from One’s Own Mind" that blames “flattery” for spiritual downfall. He draws stark comparisons to North Korean propaganda, arguing that Minghui scapegoats praise to demonize him. He critiques Falun Gong’s shift from spiritual practice to ideological loyalty tests.
Yu Chao posted Episode 324 on YouTube: “Seeking Truth, Evil Overflows (Part 2)”
Yu Chao continues his rebuttal, defending praise he received from independent observers and ridiculing Minghui’s insinuations that admirers are Communist agents. He exposes the logical collapse of guilt-by-association rhetoric and calls out spiritual slander masked as editorial commentary.
Yu Chao posted Episode 325 on YouTube: “Seeking Truth, Evil Overflows (Part 3)”
Yu Chao denounces Falun Gong’s degeneration into a cult of obedience, accusing Minghui of exploiting spiritual fear to silence dissent. He critiques contradictions in the teachings of Li Hongzhi and frames FLG leadership as betraying its foundational values through ideological purges.
Yu Chao reported Shen Yun to the National Human Trafficking Hotline
Yu Chao submitted a whistleblower report to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, naming Shen Yun Performing Arts and detailing labor-related abuses.
Minghui Editorial Notice: Notice
Published days after Yu Chao’s whistleblowing, this notice directly accuses him of infiltrating the community and defaming Minghui. It calls him a “negative being” and CCP spy — spiritual excommunication in coded form.
Yu Chao posted Episode 328 on YouTube: “The Bankruptcy of Minghui’s Cultivation Practices”
Yu Chao confronts Minghui’s August 17 article that directly labels him a "negative being" He calls the accusation defamatory and spiritually bankrupt, arguing it marks a complete rejection of truthfulness. He frames the article as a retaliatory attack for his whistleblowing.
Yu Chao posted Episode 329 on YouTube: “A Storm Is Brewing in the Near Future”
Yu Chao reveals testimonies from Shen Yun performers detailing indoctrination, trauma, and suicide attempts. He accuses Falun Gong of systemic abuse and psychological manipulation. He argues that Minghui’s crackdown on whistleblowers masks deeper institutional rot.
Minghui published article: My Take on Blindly Admiring Others
Criticizes followers for admiring Yu Chao based on status or persecution. Labels such loyalty as emotionally driven and warns that spiritual judgment should override sympathy or personal ties.
Master Li issued scripture: Stay Far Away From Peril
Urges practitioners to abandon even longtime Dafa contributors if they “go astray.” It frames loyalty to individuals over Master as fatal — implicitly justifying abandonment of Yu Chao.
Master Li issued scripture: Cultivation in Dafa Is Serious
Insists that past merit does not excuse ideological deviation. Threatens divine judgment for those who disrupt others’ cultivation — echoing language used against Yu Chao.
Minghui published article: Common Pitfall in Cultivation: Evaluating Things with Human Notions and Thoughts
Targets Yu Chao by name, accusing him of misleading others. Warns that his actions support CCP spies and carry karmic consequences — spiritual condemnation dressed as doctrinal critique.
Minghui Editorial Notice: Righteous Thoughts Versus Human Emotions (Updated)
Denounces those who sympathize with Yu Chao, stating his videos are tools of secret agents. Threatens spiritual elimination for those emotionally swayed — a stark ideological boundary enforced by fear.
FBI safety alert issued after alleged threats
According to a Shen Yun representative quoted by The Epoch Times, the FBI was notified of alleged threats against the Dragon Springs campus.
Clarification: Yu Chao was not present near the Dragon Springs campus at any time during the period referenced in the FBI alert.
FBI raided Yu Chao’s home
Falun Gong affiliates allegedly report Yu Chao to the FBI, falsely claiming he posed a public safety threat. This results in a 3-hour federal and local law enforcement raid. While executing the search, officers discovered firearms lawfully purchased and licensed in Minnesota but not registered in Massachusetts. Yu Chao is now facing a Massachusetts state charge of unlawful firearm possession. The legal process is ongoing, with a hearing scheduled for July 2025. The incident illustrates how retaliatory reporting led directly to criminal prosecution, despite the lack of any violent threat.
Minghui Editorial Notice: Acting with Righteous Thoughts (with Master’s Comment)
Cautions against idolizing or attacking Master’s relatives. While less direct, it reinforces obedience to internal hierarchy — especially amid recent public questioning.
Yu Chao posted Episode 337 on YouTube: “Talking Tyrants Through History”
Yu Chao condemns FLG censorship of any criticism related to Li Hongzhi’s family. He compares Falun Gong’s leadership structure to historical tyrannies and cult hierarchies, and urges the community to prioritize truth over lineage and fear-driven loyalty.
Minghui Editorial Notice: Holding Oneself to a Cultivator’s Standard
Follow-up urging practitioners to return to “fundamentals” and avoid extreme behavior toward Master’s family. Functions as internal discipline post-outcry.
Yu Chao posted Episode 360 on YouTube: “Debunking Zhang Tianliang’s ‘Silence Is Justified’”
Yu Chao dismantles Zhang Tianliang’s claim that “silence is justified,” asserting that it equates dissent with guilt. He frames the argument as authoritarian logic used to shame and isolate critics. He positions his own speech as an act of moral defiance against ideological conformity.
Minghui Editorial Notice: Notice
Calls for purging corrupt influences like Hongyu Zhao. Accuses him of seduction, manipulation, and cross-city subversion. Reinforces ideological purity and fear-based discipline.
Yu Chao posted Episode 363 on YouTube: “Facing Prison Again”
Yu Chao shares his resolve to maintain personal integrity despite looming legal risks. He highlights the cost of dissent in Falun Gong’s insular environment and honors those who resist cult-like obedience. His message is one of courage in the face of moral totalitarianism.
Minghui Editorial Notice: Notice
Officially expels journalist Simone Gao for supporting Yu Chao. Labels Yu as an attacker of Master and Minghui, and warns that even indirect associations with him warrant condemnation.
Faluninfo published article "Weaponizing Social Media: The CCP Strategy Against Falun Gong"
FalunInfo reports on CCP efforts to weaponize YouTubers against Falun Gong. It describes an ex-prisoner now in the U.S. who attacks Shen Yun online — widely interpreted as Yu Chao — and links this media campaign to coordinated attempts to provoke FBI action.
The New York Times publishes “The Dark Side of Shen Yun”
Expands on coercive conditions and trauma experienced by teenage performers.
The New York Times publishes “Lifting the Curtain of Shen Yun to Reveal a Dark Side”
Describes 10-month investigation and sourcing from over 80 insiders.
Faluninfo published article "12 Things to Know About The NY Times’ “Investigation” of Shen Yun, Falun Gong"
FalunInfo attacks the NYT’s Shen Yun coverage, accusing it of bias, unethical reporting, and aiding CCP goals. The article links Yu Chao to CCP disinformation networks and portrays him as a dangerous YouTuber colluding with NYT reporters
Minghui published article: Switzerland Fahui
A testimonial warning about being deceived by “righteous-looking” people who harbor jealousy. Uses Shen Gongbao again — reinforcing the archetype coded to Yu Chao.
The New York Times publishes “Shen Yun’s Labor Practices Attract Regulators’ Scrutiny”
Reports state labor investigations triggered by the NYT’s exposé.
Lawsuit was filed: Chang v. Shen Yun (forced labor claims)
Chang v. Shen Yun Performing Arts: The lawsuit was filed on November 25, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (White Plains), case number 7:24-cv-08980. It alleges that Shen Yun engaged in coercive labor practices, including forced labor and psychological manipulation of performers.
Lawsuit was filed: Sun et al v. Shen Yun (abuse allegations)
Sun et al v. Shen Yun Performing Arts: The lawsuit was filed on November 25, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (White Plains), case number 7:24-cv-08981-VB. It brings claims of abuse, emotional trauma, and exploitative control by Shen Yun leadership toward multiple former performers.
The New York Times publishes “Ex-Dancer Accuses Shen Yun of Forced Labor”
Lawsuit filed by Chang Chun-Ko alleging forced labor, unpaid work, and ideological abuse.
Faluninfo published article "An Unprecedented CCP Campaign to Sabotage Shen Yun, Eliminate Falun Gong Globally"
FalunInfo describes a CCP-led global campaign to dismantle Falun Gong and Shen Yun, using disinformation, legal attacks, and infiltration. The article indirectly frames critics like Yu Chao as tools of this sabotage effort—reinforcing the narrative that whistleblowers are CCP operatives.
The New York Times publishes “How Shen Yun Tapped Religious Fervor to Make $266M”
Investigates Shen Yun’s revenue model and how the organization leveraged devotees’ religious fervor to amass $266 million.
The New York Times publishes “The Epoch Times Wrote 17,000 Articles for Shen Yun”
Reveals FLG’s coordinated media effort through The Epoch Times.
The New York Times publishes “5 Takeaways From the Shen Yun Investigation”
Summary of key revelations from the full series.
The New York Times publishes “Shen Yun Is Said to Be Under Federal Investigation Over Possible Visa Fraud”
DHS and State Department initiate criminal investigations into visa fraud and labor violations.
Minghui published article: The CCP’s Unrestricted Warfare: Weaponizing Culture and the Entertainment Industry
Describes CCP’s use of insiders to destabilize spiritual groups. Strongly implies that Yu Chao serves that role, using Shen Gongbao to encode the accusation.
The New York Times publishes “Shen Yun: The Dark Side of a Dance Troupe”
Broader reflection on abuse, authoritarianism, and international implications of FLG’s global performance brand.