China’s entertainment industry at risk of being cancelled by government leaders

IT WAS exactly two years ago this week that I made my first trip to Mainland China. I had long dreamed of visiting the country, thanks to my somewhat unhealthy obsession with everything about that country.

I was familiar with its history, but was also impressed by how they had managed to build everything and become a world leader.

I pored over everything – the politics, the culture, the food and, of course, the entertainment industry. Part of the reason I was so excited was to see for myself just how big the country really is and how obsessed the locals are with their stars.

As I walked through the Beijing Capital International Airport, I actively searched for billboards, trying to see which Chinese stars I spotted. Kris Wu, Angelababy, Zhao Wei, Yang Mi and Zhou Dongyu all had adverts with their faces emblazoned next to the luxury brand they were ambassadors of. I grew crestfallen as I realised just how much Fan Bingbing’s presence was scrubbed clean from the public. It was like she didn't exist.

The actress had been embroiled in a tax evasion scandal, which had seen her forced to pay $130 million in back taxes. Films she was in were shelved and her name removed from some films she had starred in. Such was Beijing's punishment for the actress, who went from being one of the most visible Chinese actors and one of the most successful global movie stars, to becoming an outcast. She’s now slowly coming back into the industry and trying to get back to where she was. But it’s going to be almost impossible to achieve that, thanks to the country's decision to crackdown on famous figures, their influence on the general public and fan culture.

What this crackdown has done, is to essentially remind China’s business and entertainment industry elites that no one is beyond being brought “to book” by Beijing. The wealth and success of China’s billionaire business people and celebrities is reportedly a problem for the leaders.

We saw it with Alibaba chief executive, Jack Ma, who fell out of favour last year and disappeared from the public eye. His company has not recovered. Other billionaires have also faced similar falls, including Zhao Wei.

The sudden erasure and blacklisting of Bingbing’s My Fair Princess co-star and singer, Wei, made global headlines. She was arguably as popular as Bingbing and had managed to create a fortune alongside her Singaporean businessman Huang You Long. Recently, Wei was erased from China’s social media sites (where she had more than 85 million followers on Weibo) and entertainment platforms, including her film and TV credits.

It sent shockwaves through the industry and forced many entertainers to reduce the time they spent on social media and interacting with their fans.

Recently, internet watchdog the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) released a 10-point plan to curb an obsessive fan culture. It also shone the spotlight on celebrity behaviour that encouraged this obsession. The plan prohibits “celebrity worship” and also regulates the vigorous fan community on social media sites, where the activities of celebrities drive conversation.

And the government is serious about this. Chinese celebrities were required to take part in an “ethical training session” hosted by the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA). It is reported that the CAC has also launched a campaign to crush the wealthy power bloc of the country’s film industry.

Hence the erasure of Wei has had a major impact on celebrities and fan culture in the country. Some personalities have even cut ties with the luxury brands they once endorsed.

Lu Han, a former member of the popular K-pop band EXO, cut ties with Swiss luxury brand Audemars Piguet. An ambassador for the brand since 2018, he denounced his relationship with the brand because of a video of the brand’s chief executive, François-Henry Bennahmias, referring to Taiwan as a country in an interview.

Earlier this month, there were reports on China’s plans to ban “sissy men and other abnormal aesthetics” on TV and advertisements. Instead, broadcasters are urged to “promote excellent Chinese traditional culture”. These new rules are designed to address problems like wealth flaunting and celebrity worship and cultivate respect for morality.

President Xi Jinping’s common prosperity policy calls for a clampdown on high incomes and a redistribution of wealth. And apparently one way to do it is by focusing on those who have wealth, power and influence.