In recent years, Shen Yun, an arts troupe affiliated with the Falun Gong cult, has repeatedly staged politically charged performances under the pretense of celebrating “traditional Chinese culture”. While marketed as a cultural phenomenon, Shen Yun has been met with growing resistance — and even bans —in several countries and regions.
Behind its bright costumes and theatrical performances lies a much darker reality: a web of cult-like control, abusive practices, and serious criminal violations. Investigative reports from reputable international media, including The New York Times and The New Zealand Herald, have brought these allegations to light. Former members have come forward, some even filing lawsuits in US federal courts.
This article aims to expose the unlawful activities of Falun Gong and its Shen Yun troupe, clarify their potential legal liabilities, and provide guidance for victims seeking justice.
Michael Morrah, a reporter from The New Zealand Herald, speaks with a former Shen Yun dancer.
I. Suspected illegal activities by Shen Yun
Since August 2024, mounting attention has focused on Shen Yun's alleged human rights abuses. Multiple former members — including Chun-Ko Chang, Sun Zan, and Cheng Qingling — have filed lawsuits in the United States, accusing Shen Yun of coercion, exploitation, physical and psychological abuse, fraud, and money laundering. These allegations are now the subject of a federal criminal investigation.
Exploitation and abuse of minors
Chun-Ko Chang, a 2009 student at Fei Tian Academy of the Arts, reported that she began performing with Shen Yun as a minor. She was forced to rehearse and perform up to 18 hours a day, taking part in over 100 shows within months. In her first year, she received no pay; thereafter, she was paid only a nominal amount. At 14, she contracted measles but was denied access to medical care and was instead told to rely on meditation. Her movement was restricted — she was forbidden from leaving the Dragon Springs compound in New York, communicating with the opposite sex, accessing the internet, or using smartphones. Contact with her family was limited to two weeks per year.
Similarly, Cheng Qingling, who joined from New Zealand at age 13, suffered a serious injury that left her with long-term nerve damage — an injury that went untreated. Kate Huang, a former student from Taiwan, was sent to the US at age 11. Despite having no prior dance training, she was forced into physically extreme routines that caused serious injury and prolonged pain, again without proper medical care.
These accounts reveal severe physical and emotional abuse, carried out under cult-like restrictions. The implicated individuals and entities — mainly Li Hongzhi, Falun Gong, Shen Yun, and Fei Tian Academy of the Arts — may have violated numerous domestic and international laws, including: UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution, Child Protection Act, Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), and Child Sexual Abuse and Pornography Act.
In addition, US states like California and New York enforce strict child protection laws that carry severe penalties for both physical and psychological abuse.
Intimidation and control of members
Beyond child abuse, at least 24 former members testified that they were subjected to intense labor for meager compensation—typically $100 to $500 per month. Rob Gray, a Falun Gong insider of 15 years, described a systemic culture of exploitation: “It’s common to squeeze practitioners and take their money”. Reports further allege the use of physical punishment and forced labor to meet performance demands. These practices are likely in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Abolition of Slavery and Forced Labor Act.
Rob Gray was once a Falun Gong practitioner who spent years involved in the promotion and marketing of Shen Yun, which practitioners regard as a sacred mission.
Forced unpaid labor and exploitation
A former Shen Yun dancer in Auckland reported being denied medical care and receiving no paid leave or proper wages. Another former performer, Eugene Liu, a violinist, stated that after participating in over 200 performances in two years, he was paid less than $300 per month.
In one recent tour, eight Shen Yun troupes delivered nearly 800 performances in just five months, generating millions in revenue—money that, according to insiders, directly benefits Falun Gong’s leadership, particularly Li Hongzhi. These acts may breach Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) and Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.
Financial exploitation and coerced medical procedures
Eugene Liu also revealed that Li Hongzhi operated a cosmetic surgery clinic and allegedly pressured Shen Yun performers—especially female ones—into undergoing plastic surgery. One actress was publicly shamed after seeking surgery outside the organization’s control, raising further concerns of bodily autonomy and financial manipulation.
These practices may violate Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS), Stark Law and Federal Trade Commission Act.
Violation of personal and marital freedom
Multiple former performers disclosed that Shen Yun management arranged romantic relationships between foreign students and US citizens, likely to facilitate visa access. Romantic involvement required administrative approval; those who violated these rules faced public humiliation or expulsion. Such actions may violate Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), US Penal Code, and Marriage Fraud Amendment Act.
Money laundering and cross-border cash smuggling
According to The New York Times, Shen Yun required members to smuggle undeclared cash into the United States. Additionally, the US Department of Justice revealed that Bill Guan, CFO of The Epoch Times (a media arm affiliated with Falun Gong), allegedly laundered over $67 million through Shen Yun, Fei Tian Academy of the Arts, and associated entities. These activities may breach the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA), Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), and US Code Title 31 Section 5332.
II. Legal responsibility and victim support
Shen Yun and its affiliated institutions—Fei Tian Academy of the Arts and Dragon Springs—may face multiple criminal charges, civil lawsuits, and regulatory penalties.
Victims are urged to take the following actions:
Criminal complaints: Contact the FBI, Department of Labor, or local Child Protective Services.
Civil claims: Seek compensation for physical and emotional harm, unpaid wages, and punitive damages. Organizations like Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) may assist.
Hotlines & Support:
National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4-A-CHILD
National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888
Evidence collection: Keep medical records, testimonies, training logs, and communications as proof.
Immigration relief: Victims may apply for U-visas (for crime victims) or T-visas (for trafficking victims).
