On May 13th, a blogger posted screenshots of chat records with Li Yapeng, claiming to have been with Li Yapeng’s company for 4 years, helping him build a team and manage new media accounts. However, Li Yapeng had delayed paying the employees’ salaries for 10 months, despite several reminders. In response, Li Yapeng posted an apology video on Weibo on the 14th, promising to resolve the issue before the end of the day.
The netizen with the handle “hidingtree” shared screenshots of conversations with Li Yapeng on Weibo. He mentioned that he had known Li Yapeng since 2000 when he was a magazine editor and they became friends due to Li Yapeng’s popularity from the show “Laughing in the Wind.” In 2018, Li Yapeng invited him to join a web company, but over the four years working there, Li Yapeng not only failed to pay salaries but also ignored multiple reminders. Whenever money was mentioned, Li Yapeng conveniently ignored it.
The blogger also mentioned that during his tenure, he encouraged Li Yapeng to operate in the self-media field and had friends help him for free with filming, editing, and production. However, once live streaming for sales became profitable, Li Yapeng replaced the friend’s team.
From the “chat screenshots,” it can be seen that the conversation between the blogger and Li Yapeng spanned from 2019 to 2022. The screenshots were annotated with some highlighted information, indicating that Li Yapeng had not paid salaries for up to 10 months, and the blogger had covered various expenses. Li Yapeng was even asked for the 2018 salary in 2020 without any response or social security payments for the employees.
The blogger emphasized that not only did he cover expenses, but he also borrowed “millions” for Li Yapeng. When he requested payment for the employees, Li Yapeng disappeared completely, never responding to any messages or calls. The blogger mentioned that he decided to make the situation public because his own livelihood was in jeopardy.
On the 14th, Li Yapeng posted an apology video on Weibo, mentioning that he was on his way to Wuyishan to search for tea. Addressing the other party as “Zhao student,” he acknowledged the remaining 60,000 RMB compensation owed and promised, “I believe that before the end of today’s work hours, this issue will be resolved.”
In the video, Li Yapeng formally apologized to “Zhao student” but also brought up the blogger’s self-media operation, saying, “I know you left the company to start your own self-media. Zhao student’s Douyin account is called ‘Lao Zhao watches outdoors,’ and I hope everyone can follow and support.”
Regarding the issue of former employees being owed salaries, Li Yapeng expressed his apologies to over a hundred colleagues who had left the company, stating, “Thank you for your tolerance and understanding. After a year of effort, over 90% of the compensation has been paid, victory is in sight.”
However, the subtitled “apology video” by Li Yapeng sparked widespread criticisms. Some netizens commented, “I really admire you, the way you speak and your attitude, it feels like he owes you,” “It’s embarrassing to owe 60,000 yuan,” “This apology doesn’t seem sincere, implicating others while speaking in veiled terms.”
Having left the entertainment industry for years, Li Yapeng faced business difficulties, especially as his real estate investments with his brother, Li Yawei, failed and led to legal actions, forcing them to pay off 40 million yuan in assets in April last year. While the applicants agreed to repay in installments, the brothers have yet to pay any amount, currently facing restrictions on high consumption, unable to even purchase flight tickets. It was mentioned that Li Yapeng, due to business failures and lack of income for years, had been using his savings, coupled with his love for investments, leading to his divorce from Wang Fei.
On April 28, 2023, Li Yapeng posted on Weibo in response to the 40 million yuan debt issue, stating that it had been ongoing for many years, and a repayment plan had been arranged with the concerned party. He clarified that forced execution was a routine process and made no further explanations. Li Yapeng admitted to facing difficulties beyond the 40 million yuan debt, acknowledging his aspirations were greater than his capabilities. He emphasized that repaying debts for his mistakes was a matter of principle and required no further elaboration.
Li Yapeng, who remarried Miss World Hai Hakin, 19 years his junior, is currently striving to earn money through live streaming. Last month, Hai Hakin shared a video on Xiaohongshu where someone asked, “Has Peng Ge paid off the debt?” to which she candidly replied, “Not yet, Peng Ge is busy live streaming to earn money for repayment.”
The latest information from the Qichacha app shows that Beijing Taihe Youlian Investment Co., Ltd., Li Yapeng, Li Yawei, is currently involved in a contract dispute leading to a judicial auction notice for the property located at “Unit 6, 7G, 6th floor of Block E, No. 36 Liangmaqiao Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing.” The estimated price is 12.397 million yuan, with the starting bid at 8.678 million yuan, scheduled for auction from May 16th to May 17th.
Li Yapeng has starred in several TV series including “Laughing in the Wind,” “Love as the Aegean Sea,” and “The Legend of the Condor Heroes,” and was once a shining star in many people’s memories. However, as Li Yapeng has been living under the shadow of debt in recent years and trying to save face, many netizens mockingly ask, “If he had just focused on being an actor earlier, wouldn’t he have earned more than 40 million for a single film?”