Chinese actor Evan Li detained on suspicion of soliciting prostitutes -CCTV

China Mengniu Dairy

12/09/2022 05:24

BEIJING, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Chinese actor Li Yifeng, who
played former Communist Party leader Mao Zedong in a 2021 movie,
was detained recently by Beijing police on suspicion of
soliciting prostitutes, China's state broadcaster CCTV reported
https://weibo.com/2656274875/M5gZ1okgF?type=repost on Sunday.
    CCTV said it was citing a Beijing police statement on the
agency's https://weibo.com/n/%E5%B9%B3%E5%AE%89%E5%8C%97%E4%BA%AC
 Weibo social media account on Sunday that it recently detained
an actor with the surname Li for multiple instances of
soliciting prostitutes. CCTV said it confirmed the person is Li
Yifeng.  
    The 35-year-old actor, who is also known as Evan Li,
launched his career after taking part in a national television
song contest in 2007 and later moved into acting.
    Reuters was unable to reach Li for comment through his Weibo
account and efforts to contact him through his studio's WeChat
account were not successful. 
    Several brands, including Italian luxury firm Prada
 1913.F , cut ties with Li immediately after the CCTV report,
according to posts on their social media accounts. 
    Prada said on its Weibo account on Sunday that it had "ended
all cooperation" with Li, without saying what prompted the move.
    Other brands to cut ties with the actor included
Haleon-owned  HLN.L  toothpaste brand Sensodyne and
Mengniu-owned  2319.HK  milk drink Zhenguoli, according to their
social media posts.
    Li last year appeared in a public service announcement video
to promote national security. 
    However, Beijing has been targeting Chinese celebrities over
any alleged misbehaviour, concerned by their growing influence,
especially over minors, and to curtail what the government calls
the potential for social disorder.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2PY02L
    

 (Reporting by Beijing Newsroom and Dominique Patton; Editing by
Christian Schmollinger)
 ((dominique.patton@thomsonreuters.com;))