Chinese actor detained for soliciting prostitutes
Chinese actor Li Yifeng, one of the mainland’s biggest stars, has been detained on suspicion of soliciting prostitutes, state media reported. The actor was subsequently dropped as brand ambassador by multiple companies, including Italian luxury firm Prada. The Beijing Public Security Bureau on Sunday announced the administrative detention of a 35-year-old identified only as Li, according to a China Daily report, which said he had been “cancelled”. The report added that the man had confessed to soliciting prostitutes on several occasions. Broadcaster CCTV later confirmed the actor’s full name on its Weibo account. The 35-year-old actor, who is also known as Evan Li, launched his career after taking part in a national television song contest in 2007 and later moved into acting. Li’s name was struck from a list of celebrities expected to perform at CCTV’s annual Mid-Autumn Festival Gala a day before news of his detention broke out. The Supreme People’s Procuratorate also removed a music video, in which the actor introduces the work of prosecutors, from its Weibo account. (Additional reporting by Reuters)