Jing Tian is currently embroiled in a debt dispute with billionaire Justin Sun. The actress has reportedly suffered damage to her reputation, with several professional opportunities becoming restricted and the possibility of losing hundreds of millions of yuan.
According to 163, billionaire Justin Sun recently posted online, allegedly exposing his secret romantic relationship with Jing Tian. The more-than-6,000-word post portrayed the actress, once dubbed the “No. 1 Beauty in Beijing,” in an extremely negative light, accusing her of being money-minded, vain, and obsessed with material possessions.
Justin Sun also reportedly took Jing Tian to court, seeking more than 30 million yuan (approximately $4.5 million) in what he described as “bride price” money. The controversy has since had a significant impact on Jing Tian’s public image.
According to 163, searches for Jing Tian’s name on WeChat and several major social media platforms currently return notices stating that “no relevant results are temporarily available.” Her name has also reportedly disappeared from entertainment industry artist index rankings.
Some believe this could be a measure intended to help Jing Tian’s scandal die down. However, there has also been speculation that the actress may have been subjected to an unofficial industry ban because of allegations involving surrogacy, which Justin Sun reportedly discussed in the open letter.
In mid-August, the brand Meituan announced a collaboration with Jing Tian, but the post has since been deleted. After the scandal broke, audiences also captured images showing staff removing posters featuring Jing Tian, while posts related to the actress were reportedly removed from the brand’s online platforms.
Although the brand did not make a high-profile announcement about ending its partnership with Jing Tian, the series of actions has suggested that the actress has been significantly affected by the controversy surrounding her private life.
According to 163, in addition to potentially having to pay 30 million yuan, Jing Tian could lose tens of millions of yuan more if advertising contracts are terminated. For a star of Jing Tian’s profile, each endorsement deal could reportedly bring in 15 million to 20 million yuan annually. This does not include separate fees for public appearances and promotional events.
Jing Tian also has three completed starring projects that have yet to air: Long Gu Fen Xiang, co-starring Zhang Binbin; Coming to Myself, starring Zhang Xincheng as the male lead; and Yesterday Once More, co-starring Qu Chuxiao. Following the controversy surrounding Jing Tian, viewers have expressed concern that the projects she participated in could be shelved. At present, an actress of Jing Tian’s stature could reportedly command between 10 million and 20 million yuan for a single acting role.
According to 163, actors are required to sign liability agreements before joining film and television projects. If a production cannot be released because of a personal scandal involving an actor, the artist may not only be required to return their acting fee but could also be held responsible for compensating the production for its losses.
In early August, reports claimed that Long Gu Fen Xiang was seeking an expedited release to minimize potential risks, but the effort was reportedly unsuccessful. 163 estimated that Jing Tian could suffer losses of up to 100 million yuan if all three of her unreleased projects fail to reach audiences.
Jing Tian is currently not involved in any new projects. She has reportedly become an artist viewed by investors as carrying significant reputational risk, with concerns that negative publicity surrounding her could affect the performance of a production. As a result, the opportunities available to her may continue to decrease.
Sina reported that Jing Tian had previously attempted to sell a property in Shanghai to repay money allegedly owed to Justin Sun, but the sale was unsuccessful. Despite repeatedly lowering the asking price, the luxury property, reportedly valued at more than 100 million yuan, has been difficult to sell amid the controversy surrounding its owner.
Previously, cryptocurrency tycoon Justin Sun shocked the public by publishing a post titled “My Girlfriend, Jing Tian,” in which he described an alleged secret relationship with the actress. Sun claimed that he had spent a substantial amount of money supporting and winning over Jing Tian and her parents. However, after their relationship allegedly ended, the billionaire sought to recover more than 30 million yuan. Sun also reportedly disclosed intimate details about their relationship, which further damaged Jing Tian’s previously glamorous and sophisticated public image.
Throughout her career, Jing Tian rose to prominence as the so-called “Peony of the Human World” and was dubbed the “No. 1 Beauty in Beijing” as well as a campus beauty queen at the Beijing Film Academy.
From the beginning of her career, Jing Tian was reportedly supported by wealthy figures behind the scenes and secured numerous major projects. Combined with the allegations surrounding her relationship with Justin Sun, the actress has increasingly been portrayed by some as a female celebrity who relied on wealthy benefactors to advance her career.
Sources: TP