Reactions are mixed as Fan Bingbing readies comeback
BEIJING: A new advertisement campaign and report in the fashion magazine Marie Claire suggest that shamed actress Fan Bingbing is preparing for a comeback.
The supposed comeback comes months after she had coughed out over 800 million yuan ( RM487 million) for tax evasion.
However, reactions have been mixed over her planned return to endorsing luxury brands. Although not reported, it has been widely speculated that Fan has been banned from showbiz for three years. Apparently, no such blacklisting has been applied to her work as a brand ambassador.
Even before the launch of a new publicity blitz, online advertising suggest that Fan is well on her way to a comeback.
For instance, a series of photos in ads by the Chinese sunglasses brand Prsr have been circulating on Sina Weibo with Fan as the model.
“The newly released photos are for the company’s 2019 series of sunglasses,” an employee of the Prsr online store, who asked for anonymity, confirmed with newsmen. “The photos featuring Fan were newly uploaded.”
The brand’s website shows Fan has been representing Prsr since 2009 and introduces Fan’s achievements and their cooperation. The same advertisement is also displayed on Prsr’s official e- commerce store on jd.com.
Fashion magazine Marie Claire has also reported that Hollywood star Penelope Cruz will star in an all-female spy thriller 355 with Fan, Jessica Chastain and other actresses.
Back in September, Zhang’s agent had denied that Fan is to be replaced by Zhang Ziyi.
Adding to speculations that restrictions on Fan are being relaxed, The Beijing News had on Monday listed her as one of the Entertainers of 2018.
Last October, Fan was fined some 880 million yuan for evading taxes amounting to 248 million yuan. Tax authorities ordered her to pay the tax and fine by a deadline to avoid criminal charges.
Online comments on Fan’s imminent comeback have been varied. Supporters welcomed her increasing public appearances, with social media user Fengbufan saying “she must have learned a lesson and will behave well hereafter.”
But her detractors reckon that the punishment for Fan was too light.
“Fan should have been sent to prison,” wrote Weibo user “Wenzhebushangxin.”
In 2002, actress Liu Xiaoqing was imprisoned for 14 months for a similar infringement.
The newly released photos are for the company’s 2019 series of sunglasses. The photos featuring Fan were newly uploaded. Employee of the Prsr online store