Fan Bingbing’s Tax Drama Shakes Up Beijing’s Star Scene
“Big‑Money, Big Hype” TV Show
- Show: Chinese Restaurant 2 on Hunan Television
- Star‑studded line‑up: actress Vicky Zhao, Taiwanese star Shu Qi, and actor Alec Su
- Per‑season pay: each got a whopping 50 million CNY (about S$10 million)
New Rules, Old Money
China’s tax authorities have slapped a 10 million CNY cap per season for TV stars. That means the trio’s season‑2 salaries were a clear over‑the‑limit blip.
Return‑back Statements
- Both actresses were told by the National Radio & Television Administration to hand back 8 million CNY from their own funds.
- Vicky Zhao: “I’m all in” and gave the money back immediately.
- Shu Qi: Showed a hint of resistance, but a friendly nudge from Zhao convinced her to comply.
Who’s the Next on the Hot List?
Rumors swirl that Faye Wong might soon be in the inspector’s crosshair, after allegedly pocketing 300 million CNY (around $60 million) for her stint on the music reality show Phantacity. No statement from either Faye or Shu has surfaced yet.
Fan Bingbing’s Fallout
On October 3, the State Administration of Taxation announced a 800 million CNY bill—a mix of taxes, fines, and overdue charges. Fan wrote a heartfelt apology on Weibo, which was reshared 174 000 times within eight hours.
One viral comment read: “Hope you truly regret your moves, not just the forced apology. Future stars should reflect on theirs too.”
