Did they date? Newly revealed photos have some netizens speculating about a non-celebrity’s relationship with an actress.
Song Zu’er (also known as Lareina Song) is a Chinese actress and singer who made her debut in 2005 as a child actress. Since her debut role in the TV series The Sea and Sky Boundless (2005), Song has appeared in reality shows, TV series, and films, including Legally Romance (2022). She currently has over 15 million followers on the Chinese social media platform Weibo.
Song returned to Weibo in the fall of 2024, following tax evasion allegations that negatively impacted her public image and career in 2023. On August 31, 2023, a former employee reportedly accused Song of not paying up to 45 million yuan (approximately $ 6.2 million USD) in taxes. According to a statement made by Song’s company in August 2024, an investigation into the alleged tax evasion proved the allegations false.
On January 17, 2025, an American man named Brett Keefe reminisced on Xiaohongshu (also known as RedNote) about the time he and Song spent together and expressed his desire to be reunited with her in the future. In one photo, taken years ago, Song can be seen posing for a photo with Keefe.
In another, she’s taking a fun selfie with Keefe and his family. Keefe is one of the many American TikTok users who sought out RedNote because of the U.S.’s proposed TikTok ban.
After seeing the photos, some netizens reportedly speculated that Song and Keefe might have been dating at the time. Both Song’s agency and Keefe have shut down these rumors. Song’s agency, Sina Entertainment, explained that Song stayed with Keefe’s family while she was studying abroad. Keefe said, “She is like a sister to me. She loves [my family], and we love her.” He also denied that he has any interest in Song’s money and simply wanted to get back in touch with her.
