On April 29th, after nearly four years of being banned, mainland Chinese actress Zhao Wei made a low-key appearance at the premiere of the movie “Sole and Desolate” held at the Sanlitun Cinema in Beijing. Footage shared by netizens shows Zhao Wei being escorted into the theater, where she sat in the same row with Chen Kun and Huang Bo. After the screening, when other celebrities shared their thoughts on the film, Zhao Wei kept her head down and wore a mask, presumably to avoid being captured by the cameras.
In the captured images shared by netizens, Zhao Wei was dressed in loose blue jeans with a black-and-white striped top underneath, paired with a black casual jacket. She wore a black mask, her hair just reaching her shoulders, and carried a black cap in her hand which she appeared to have taken off upon entering the theater.
Many celebrities attended the movie premiere, including Chen Kun, Huang Bo, Song Jia, Yu Shi, and Wang Ziwen. Zhao Wei sat next to Chen Kun, with Huang Bo beside them. This marked Zhao Wei’s first public appearance in the film industry after a three-and-a-half-year hiatus, and sitting next to two heavyweight actors added significance to the event.
Zhao Wei and Chen Kun are former classmates from the Beijing Film Academy’s acting department. They have previously collaborated on films such as “Mulan” and two “Painted Skin” movies. Zhao Wei has also worked with Huang Bo in the movie “Dearest”. Despite their close relations, the three kept a low profile at the event with minimal interaction in the theater.
Interestingly, Zhao Wei had a special interaction with her friend Zhang Yi, the screenwriter of “Dearest”. When Zhang Yi turned to show something to Zhao Wei on his phone, covering his mouth while speaking, Zhao Wei brushed her bangs aside, leaned forward to listen, and then the two exchanged a knowing touch on the head, indicating a deep connection and seemed to be comforting each other. This gesture of affection between them would have sparked gossip if it was any other A-list celebrity. Though Zhao Wei’s presence is restricted on social media, discussions related to her still manage to trend on certain entertainment platforms.
Moreover, footage captured Zhao Wei leaving the venue with security personnel surrounding her from all sides, maintaining the aura of a star. Speculation arose that Zhao Wei’s public appearance at the event might be a test to gauge her comeback potential and to sense the public’s acceptance of her return.
Known for her breakout role in the drama series “My Fair Princess” created by Chiung Yao, Zhao Wei fell out of favor in August 2021 when Chinese platforms banned her, shutting down her Weibo account and recasting her in upcoming projects. This led to a ripple effect in the entertainment industry, with even her close friends distancing themselves from her on social media, seemingly afraid of any association with her. Since the ban, Zhao Wei’s business ventures have been shrinking, and she even faced legal action at the end of last year over a debt of 8,488 yuan, with enforced execution totaling 14,177 yuan.
Speculations have been rife about the reasons behind Zhao Wei’s sudden ban. Some claim it was due to her close ties with Jack Ma, while others suggest she got inadvertently caught in the political struggle between former leader Zeng Qinghong and current President Xi Jinping.
Recently, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) disclosed how the Chinese Communist Party misused Interpol to issue a red notice for Zhao Wei’s ex-husband, represented as H, leading to his arrest by French authorities. This incident also roped in China’s richest man, Jack Ma, into the unfolding drama.
Although the report pointed out that Zhao Wei’s ex-husband was the one red-flagged by Interpol under the alias H, it stated that the Chinese authorities had requested the red notice, leading to his arrest in Bordeaux, France. During H’s extradition hearing in France, Jack Ma had reportedly received requests from Chinese authorities to persuade H to return to China.
After a long period of staying under the radar, Zhao Wei has shown signs of gradually resuming social activity in the past six months.
She began by posting a tribute after the passing of Chiung Yao, then started updating her social media accounts. On December 28th last year, Zhao Wei announced on Weibo that she had parted ways with her previous husband, businessman Huang Youlong, emphasizing that his affairs had nothing to do with her. She subsequently disclosed her divorce from Huang Youlong in July 2021 to sever their legal ties. Leading up to her birthday and on the day itself, Zhao Wei began sharing daily life moments on Weibo, interacting with fans and reflecting on various thoughts, occasionally posting photos. Recently, she has been confidently appearing in front of the camera, meticulously dressed, and even filmed a video to promote a concert in memory of Chiung Yao.
Industry analysts view Zhao Wei’s attendance at the movie premiere as a clever testing of the waters. Considering her limited public appearances due to the ban, and the high-profile nature of the event, where many celebrities attended, the organizers probably orchestrated the public event diligently. Zhao Wei’s involvement in interactive segments was not arranged, and even the official social media accounts of the event did not feature her. In a clip where Chen Kun speaks from his seat, the camera deliberately avoids Zhao Wei’s face.
Zhao Wei’s appearance at the movie premiere has sparked widespread attention and discussion among netizens. The question of whether she will stage a comeback in the future remains shrouded in mystery.