Chinese Star Li Yifeng Arrested for Soliciting Prostitution
Chinese actor Li Yifeng, whose feature credits include The Pioneer, in which he portrays Chinese leader Mao Zedong, has been detained by police in Beijing for repeatedly soliciting prostitution.
Is Li Yifeng doomed?
In light of the charges, the China Television Artists Association released a statement on Monday condeming Li. “As public figures, famous actors' words and actions are under the spotlight of people from all walks of life… they should follow the laws and regulations and cherish their social image more than any others."
Li is the latest celebrity to find himself in legal trouble as the Chinese government continues to crack down on any negative influence entertainers might have on the country's public and youth.
Prada immediately dropped ties with Li following his arrest
Li, who also goes by the name Evan Li, first entered the spotlight in 2007 when he participated in a talent contest on national television. He's since become a household name in China, with about 60 million followers on Weibo.
Interestingly enough, just days before Li's arrest was made public, his studio issued a statement addressing that some internet rumors about his personal life were completely false, claiming that Li had always abided by professional ethics and morals, as well as fulfilling social responsibilities. However, once news of the scandal emerged, the studio's statement and posts were deleted withing 24 hours, causing further humiliation for Li.
Li originally posted a video calling the accusations "rumors" on Weibo prior to his arrest
The impact of the scandal on Li's career has been immediate, with several big-name brands including Prada, Sensodyne and RemyMartin rushing to cut ties with the actor on Sunday evening. Besides brands dropping him, the Huading Awards in Macao also announced on Sunday that it has also decided to rescind his title of Best Actor in a Top Chinese Television Drama.
Other brands, besides Prada, have quickly cut ties with Li
In light of his fall from grace, many netizens have shown zero emphathy for Li.
“I am totally speechless now! Is there any role model left in show business?" one netizen wrote.
“I have been a fan for 7 years! I cannot believe he is capable of doing such things!” wrote another.
Such reactions are not surprising, as China is determined to punish all kinds of misbehaviors in order to set a good example for young people, in a move to shift their attention away from what authorities consider to be bad influences.
Indeed, according to a Global Times report from February 2021, the China Performance Industry Association issued measures to further strengthen the self-regulation of performers in the showbusiness, demanding members boycott performers who have violated "societal norms."
Celebrities who have engaged in illegal activities, no matter how much fame they have, have found themselves being canceled as their social media accounts get blocked and their previous works get removed from the internet.
Li is certainly not the first entertainer who has been punished for such behavior. Other well-known celebrities include Li Yundi, who was also arrested for soliciting prostitution, and Kris Wu, who was charged with rape of a minor.
Li Yundi (L), who was also arrested for soliciting prostitution last year, pictured next to Li Yifeng (R)
Some Chinese netizens have compared Li's arrest to that of Kris Wu's arrest, however, unlike Wu, who was arrested for rape, Li's case does not involve a criminal offense. Still, many believe that Li's behavior has already fallen into the criteria of misbehaving celebrities.
“I just realized that sometimes people put these celebrities on a pedestal and fail to see that their images in films don't represent their true characters. What hides under the glorious façade might even be a rotten soul that is a thousand times uglier than that of an ordinary person" one netizen opined.
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