On August 5, Chinese media reported that Zhao Wei had over 15.9 million yuan in assets frozen by court order — a move that solidifies her fall from grace in the entertainment world. Once one of China’s most beloved stars, Zhao now finds herself in a harsher situation than fellow actress Fan Bingbing, despite both being entangled in major financial scandals.
The two actresses rose to fame together in the 1998 drama My Fair Princess, where Zhao played Xiao Yanzi (Little Swallow) and Fan portrayed her maid Jin Suo. Years later, they were among the most powerful women in Chinese showbiz — until their respective downfalls.
Financial Crimes and Legal Woes
Zhao Wei’s troubles began in 2017, when she and her husband were found guilty of securities fraud and market manipulation. Their company was penalized, and they were banned from the stock market for five years. More devastatingly, they were slapped with over 500 civil lawsuits, totaling 57.7 million yuan in damages.
Fan Bingbing, on the other hand, was exposed in 2018 for using “yin-yang contracts” to evade taxes — a practice involving fake contracts to underreport income. She was fined a record 884 million yuan. Fan disappeared from the public eye for months before resurfacing, offering apologies and paying all penalties.
Soft Ban vs. Hard Ban
Though both women were punished, their professional outcomes diverged sharply. Fan Bingbing was placed on a “soft ban”, limiting her from high-profile projects in China but still allowing appearances at minor events or overseas gigs. She has since pivoted toward international activities and business ventures, such as cosmetics.
In contrast, Zhao Wei is believed to be under a “hard ban”, meaning a complete erasure from the entertainment industry. Her past awards have been revoked, credits removed, and even search results related to her name scrubbed from major platforms. No official statement ever explained her disappearance — her blacklisting was swift, total, and mysterious.
Industry insiders, including director Wang Hailin, speculate that Zhao’s downfall is more than financial. She’s rumored to be involved in political controversies, alleged money laundering, and ties to underground networks, which may have made her a liability during China’s cultural crackdown.
The Price of Accountability
While Fan Bingbing has paid her debts, shown remorse, and stayed out of further trouble, Zhao Wei’s continuous legal battles and lack of public contrition have only fueled her negative image. Many now view Zhao not just as a fallen celebrity but as a cautionary tale in China’s ongoing campaign to clean up its entertainment industry.
Ultimately, the difference in their fates lies not only in the scale of their crimes, but in how they responded — and what they represented to the public and the state. Fan Bingbing, though disgraced, is rebuilding slowly. Zhao Wei, however, remains persona non grata — her legacy of “Little Swallow” eclipsed by scandal.
Sources: kenh14