Up-and-coming mainland Chinese actor Li Jiaming, who comes from a grassroots background, recently made headlines for marrying his 18-year-old girlfriend, sparking public interest. Reports circulated claiming that Li Jiaming received a million yuan as a wedding gift at the ceremony held in his hometown in Shanxi province. However, Li Jiaming addressed these rumors in a video response on September 20th, denying the million-yuan gift speculation. He disclosed that although they had prepared for 50 banquet tables, unexpectedly 1,400 guests attended the event.
Regarding the rumors circulating about receiving a million yuan in gifts at his wedding on September 15th, Li Jiaming stated in the video, “Online claims about the gift money I received for my wedding, saying it was 5 million, some said 1.5 million, 1.2 million, or at least a million, but in fact, it wasn’t that much, it was just because there were a lot of people!” He further expressed, “As a commoner and a small actor in the entertainment industry, I really don’t have that much influence. In reality, there were more guests dining than gift-givers.”
Li Jiaming revealed that they originally prepared for 50 banquet tables but ended up settling the bill for 132 tables. Even so, some guests did not get to eat, mainly comprising villagers and unfamiliar friends among the 1,400 attendees. Given his frequent lack of acting opportunities, he could only speak politely about the situation, “The gift money is not important; what matters is everyone came to show their support and give face.”
Public records show that Li Jiaming was born in September 1983 and entered the entertainment industry in 2001 by playing the role of “Zhao Er” as a teenager in the TV series “My Life.” With a career spanning 23 years, he has mostly portrayed supporting roles but has left a lasting impression on audiences with his genuine and kind-hearted image crafted through his impeccable acting skills.
As previously reported, Li Jiaming has faced challenges in recent years, including his company dissolving, the passing of his father, and battling depression multiple times. As his acting opportunities dwindled, even reaching a point where he had no roles to play, he struggled to make ends meet. To sustain himself, he had to move between different production teams, while also exploring various side jobs. He shared on social media images of himself wearing an apron, sweating profusely while selling fried noodles at a stall in his hometown, or selling watermelons and cantaloupes from a large truck on the streets, his arms sunburnt from the scorching sun.
At that time, Li Jiaming talked in a TikTok video about the challenges he faced as a rural-born actor without a platform, resources, or support. If he encountered production crews withholding pay unfairly, it would affect his basic livelihood; and he didn’t dare to inform his superiors when he fell ill. Sometimes, he would accept roles at meager pay just to secure a part. Especially when faced with crews intermittently dismissing staff or roles being replaced abruptly, he felt powerless.
Some netizens have expressed admiration for Li Jiaming’s humble lifestyle amidst the usual opulence of celebrities in the entertainment industry, finding it truly surprising.