According to Chinese media outlet QQ, Liu Yifei was noticeably absent from the 2025 Magnolia Awards ceremony after learning she had not won the Best Actress award—a moment that could have been a career milestone.
Despite gaining widespread acclaim across Asia for her performance as Huang Yimei in The Tale of Rose, Liu Yifei ultimately lost the coveted title to seasoned actress Tong Yao.
Given this was Liu Yifei’s first-ever nomination for a major television award in her 20-year career, expectations were understandably high. Insiders claim she was so moved by the outcome that she skipped the event entirely, even canceling her attendance at a luxury brand launch in Shanghai scheduled the same evening.
Her absence was not only noticeable but controversial. While other nominated actresses like Yan Ni, Ma Yili, and Yang Zi were seen celebrating Tong Yao’s win, Liu Yifei’s refusal to appear—or even applaud—was interpreted by many as arrogance. Critics labeled her behavior as vain and unsportsmanlike, arguing that she should have shown grace and humility in defeat.
Further intensifying the backlash, a member of the Magnolia Awards organizing committee seemingly addressed her behavior indirectly by stating, “Respecting the rules is the only way to earn respect from your peers. Only those who give sweat, effort, and heart deserve the summit.”
This controversy is particularly significant for Liu Yifei because of her American nationality, which makes her ineligible for China’s other major TV awards like the Flying Apsaras Awards and China TV Golden Eagle Awards. The Magnolia Awards remain the only major platform where she could potentially win domestic recognition. Her and her fans’ vocal dissatisfaction with the outcome has sparked mockery online and may hurt her future chances of being nominated again.
While devoted fans continue to defend her, demanding transparency in the voting process, many are concerned this incident may cast a long shadow over her awards prospects in China’s entertainment industry.
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