On April 23, a court hearing in Beijing regarding the highly publicized case of Du Yingzhe caught the attention of the public in the art examination circle. Du Yingzhe, the founder of the well-known art training institution “Yinglu Platform” in mainland China, is accused of long-term rape and sexual harassment of female students and female employees, with more than 20 victims.
The prosecutor’s indictment shows that between 2006 and 2019, Du Yingzhe is suspected of committing 7 counts of rape, with 5 instances of attempted rape where the victims were aged between 17 to 24 years old. From 2012 to 2019, Du Yingzhe is alleged to have sexually harassed over 10 women by force, with victims aged between 17 to 22 years.
According to multiple sources, these are not the only incidents. Some cases are difficult to prosecute due to the long passage of time or occurring in private spaces without strong evidence, and some victims have chosen not to seek legal action.
The name Du Yingzhe was once a “golden signboard” in the art examination industry before 2022. He is a master’s degree holder from the Literature Department of the Beijing Film Academy and one of the screenwriters of the famous animation “The Adventure of Little Carp.” With a halo around his reputation, he founded “Yinglu Platform” in 2002, a well-known veteran art training institution in the industry. Du Yingzhe was known as the “number one in film and television arts examination.”
In the enrollment brochure, he boldly proclaimed the slogan “29 times the average value” — while other institutions may admit 1 student, Yinglu could secure admission for 29 students. Parents eagerly enrolled their children in the school’s 20-day short courses with recommendation quotas.
It wasn’t until September 2022 when a lengthy article titled “21 Art Examination ‘Rooms for Siqi’s Tears’: About Du Yingzhe of Yinglu” ignited public opinion. In the essay, 21 female students recounted their personal experiences, accusing Du Yingzhe of luring them into closed rooms under the pretext of audition preparation, adjusting clothing, and committing acts of obscenity; demanding that female students shower in unlocked bathrooms with him barging in unannounced; and engaging in further acts of sexual assault. Du Yingzhe stands accused of robbing countless young girls of their youth and bodies.
For quite a long time within “Yinglu Platform,” students had their phones confiscated, the physical world was locked away, and their mental world was completely controlled by his rhetoric.
In September 2022, following the joint release of accusations by the 21 girls, Du Yingzhe was reported by the Beijing police to have been detained.