Fan Bingbing is arguably the most famous actress in China. She leapt to international fame in Korea, Franc,e and Hollywood with roles in films such as the “Iron Man” and “X-Men” franchises and also appeared in Cannes to promote an upcoming spy blockbuster with Jessica Chastain, Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz and Lupita Nyong’o.
Ms. Fan has more than 62 million followers on China’s equivalent of Twitter, Weibo, and appears in ads for products around the world. But this international superstar hasn’t been seen publicly for more than three months, and there is speculation that Chinese authorities are detaining her over allegations of tax evasion.
Although Ms. Fan’s disappearance appears to be related to a government investigation into tax evasion in the film business, she has not been charged with any crime, and no officials have confirmed that she is even under investigation.
If it’s simply a matter of paying taxes though, then Ms. Fan’s reputation seems to be damaged; her high-profile commercial relationships are even suffering. Her name was removed from the posters for a Chinese production, “Unbreakable Spirit,” starring Bruce Willis, about the Japanese bombing of China’s wartime capital, Chongqing, from 1938 to 1943. The film’s release, originally scheduled for August, has also been delayed until October, though whether that is linked to her situation remains unclear.
And despite her millions of followers, Ms. Fan hasn’t posted anything on social media since May.
Chinese authorities remained silent on their end. However, the authorities have announced a pay wall on what actors can earn, even in privately financed films. It’s the government’s attempt to stop the glitzy A-listers from taking home paychecks in excess of 40 percent of production costs.
While the government’s official statement didn’t mention Fan by name, it did say the industry was “distorting social values” and “fostering money worship tendencies.”
By: Maytinee Kramer
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