Taiwanese actor Chu Chung-heng recently promoted the stage play "The Village" in Beijing, only to have audience members bring up his 2006 marijuana incident, and ask director Stan Lai, “Why use a tainted celebrity?” The atmosphere was extremely awkward. The controversy continued for several days, and on August 22, Chu Chung-heng was officially replaced by Yang Zhibin, sparking heated discussion.
Some have asked, why is there zero tolerance toward celebrities who have used drugs in Mainland China’s entertainment industry? It turns out that after the National Radio and Television Administration issued the “Blacklist Order” in 2014, all performers who have ever committed drug use, solicited sex, drunk driving, and similar acts were thoroughly banned from appearing in front of audiences. In contrast, Taiwan’s attitude toward celebrities with a drug history appears much more lenient.
Chu Chung-heng admitted to drug use 19 years ago; although his image suffered and job offers decreased at the time, he was not completely blacklisted and continued performing in film, television, stage plays, and even hosted programs. Later, he rebuilt a “good family man” image, gradually recovering from the scandal.
Recently, after mainland audiences revived his history of drug use, Taiwanese entertainers Lang Tsu-yun, Lee Hsing-wen and others spoke up in his defense. Yang Li-yin even openly said: “People who fall down shouldn’t be denied the chance to get back up, right?”—reflecting that the Taiwanese entertainment industry has a certain level of tolerance for public figures who have made mistakes in the past.
But in Mainland China, the attitude toward celebrities with drug offenses is clearly different. Since Jaycee Chan and Kai Ko were caught using drugs in Beijing in 2014, which was seen by authorities as symbolic of a “collapse in celebrity morals”, it drew intense attention. This accelerated the issuance by the broadcasting bureau of an unofficial but binding notice, commonly known as the “Blacklist Order”, stipulating “a suspension on airing films, TV series, all types of broadcasting and television programs, as well as advertisements featuring principal creators involved in drug use, solicitation of prostitution, or other unlawful or criminal acts,” with a strict crackdown on celebrities with histories of drug use, soliciting sex, domestic violence, drunk driving, or other unlawful activities. Regardless of whether the celebrity has repented or completely served their sentence, they are not allowed to reappear in mass media.
Some have asked, why is there zero tolerance toward celebrities who have used drugs in Mainland China’s entertainment industry? It turns out that after the National Radio and Television Administration issued the “Blacklist Order” in 2014, all performers who have ever committed drug use, solicited sex, drunk driving, and similar acts were thoroughly banned from appearing in front of audiences. In contrast, Taiwan’s attitude toward celebrities with a drug history appears much more lenient.
Chu Chung-heng admitted to drug use 19 years ago; although his image suffered and job offers decreased at the time, he was not completely blacklisted and continued performing in film, television, stage plays, and even hosted programs. Later, he rebuilt a “good family man” image, gradually recovering from the scandal.
Recently, after mainland audiences revived his history of drug use, Taiwanese entertainers Lang Tsu-yun, Lee Hsing-wen and others spoke up in his defense. Yang Li-yin even openly said: “People who fall down shouldn’t be denied the chance to get back up, right?”—reflecting that the Taiwanese entertainment industry has a certain level of tolerance for public figures who have made mistakes in the past.
But in Mainland China, the attitude toward celebrities with drug offenses is clearly different. Since Jaycee Chan and Kai Ko were caught using drugs in Beijing in 2014, which was seen by authorities as symbolic of a “collapse in celebrity morals”, it drew intense attention. This accelerated the issuance by the broadcasting bureau of an unofficial but binding notice, commonly known as the “Blacklist Order”, stipulating “a suspension on airing films, TV series, all types of broadcasting and television programs, as well as advertisements featuring principal creators involved in drug use, solicitation of prostitution, or other unlawful or criminal acts,” with a strict crackdown on celebrities with histories of drug use, soliciting sex, domestic violence, drunk driving, or other unlawful activities. Regardless of whether the celebrity has repented or completely served their sentence, they are not allowed to reappear in mass media.