Recently, the upcoming Chinese costume drama "Fushan Hai" has been embroiled in controversy due to comments made by supporting actress Li Kaixin. Li, daughter of Singaporean variety show star Quan Yifeng, was reportedly found making derogatory remarks about Chinese people, stating that “the majority of Chinese are idiots.” Although the authenticity of the recording has yet to be confirmed, it has already led to a boycott, and the production team has urgently removed her promotional materials. Official media outlets such as the People's Daily and CCTV have also taken down related content and published critical articles.
In response to Li Kaixin's controversy, it is rumored that the production team is considering using AI face replacement technology to resolve the issue. Although feasible, the estimated cost per episode is between 800,000 to 2 million RMB (approximately 480,000 to 1.2 million MYR), with the entire series requiring over 20 million RMB (approximately 12 million MYR) in additional budget. Particularly since Li Kaixin's role is central to the plot, involving numerous co-starring scenes and complex settings, opting for reshooting would require coordinating the lead actors’ schedules, stretching the timeline to several months with even higher costs. Simply cutting her scenes would result in a disjointed storyline.
Viewers supporting the face replacement argue that the cast and crew are innocent and that technology should be used to isolate the problematic character, thereby preventing the entire series from being shelved. On the other hand, those calling for a boycott emphasize that there should be no compromise on national principles, demanding a thorough investigation into the production’s casting decisions. Some also pointed out a lack of oversight concerning Li Kaixin's background and history, exposing gaps in the production team's controls. The series was originally scheduled to broadcast on May 20, but it now seems likely to be delayed and could potentially be permanently shelved.
News Source: ETtoday StarCloud