Recent signals indicate that mainland Chinese actresses Fan Bingbing and Zhao Wei, who both appeared in the popular drama series “Empresses in the Palace,” have shown signs of a comeback and unofficial lift of their ban following official setbacks in 2018 and 2021, respectively.
Fan Bingbing faced a major career setback in 2018 due to being exposed for a “Yin and Yang contract” and getting involved in a tax evasion scandal, causing her acting career to plummet. She has not filmed in China for six years and was rumored to have recently moved to Hong Kong, residing in a luxurious mansion in Mid-Levels.
Despite being unable to work in China, Fan Bingbing has been actively expanding into other ventures. In addition to running a beauty business, she has been exploring overseas markets and was appointed as a goodwill ambassador for tourism by the Malacca state government in Malaysia in May this year. Some fans are concerned that she may be focusing too much on non-entertainment ventures and forgetting about acting.
On August 31st, Fan Bingbing posted a set of fireworks photos on Weibo with the caption: “My magic wand is shining.” While she intended to uplift her fans, the post sparked heated debates, with some criticizing her for not sharing fireworks from a filming set. Despite the online controversy, fans also expressed worries about her well-being and urged netizens not to pressure her. The issue continued to spark ongoing debates.
Although Fan Bingbing has not officially commented on the matter, reports suggest that she is gearing up for a new film after filming “The Ice Road 2” with renowned Hollywood actor Liam Neeson in Australia in January this year. Recent unedited photos shared from a remote location show her in high spirits and actively preparing for her upcoming projects.
Similarly, Zhao Wei, who faced a ban like Fan Bingbing, has been rumored to make a comeback multiple times. Speculations about her resurgence in June were overshadowed by reports of her frozen stock holdings shortly after. However, recent online rumors in China suggest a potential lift of the ban on Zhao Wei, with videos being unblocked, her social media accounts returning to normal, and a surge in listenership of her songs on music platforms within days. Despite earlier reports of her gracing the cover of a Chinese magazine not coming to fruition, Zhao Wei has notably increased her activity compared to before.
Earlier, netizens spotted Zhao Wei traveling from Beijing to Dali, Yunnan, and back, engaging with fans at the airport while wearing a cap and mask. Online, she has been visible interacting with social media posts by celebrities like Shu Qi, Dou Jingtong, and Ruby Lin, even complimenting Shu Qi as “super beautiful.” Observing Zhao Wei’s increased presence online has led many to speculate on her imminent return to the entertainment industry.
In 2021, Zhao Wei was abruptly banned across all online platforms in mainland China, with her film and television works being taken down, her name removed from cast lists, her super topic on Weibo shut down, and her unreleased projects recast. The entertainment industry has been on edge since, with artists who had close ties to her urgently deleting related social media posts. Since the ban, Zhao Wei’s commercial reach has significantly shrunk.
Although Chinese authorities have not specified any concrete charges against Zhao Wei to date, the unusual circumstances have led to speculation that her alleged actions may have far-reaching implications beyond just financial matters and could potentially involve political or even high-ranking figures.