Now actors who use drugs and break other laws will be banned from national media in China.
Stars who have used drugs, visited prostitutes or broken other grave laws will be barred from Chinese national television, movies, or other broadcast media, state authorities announced on October 9, 2014. The move comes after a series of scandals involving celebrities, in a bid to save the image of the entertainment industry, keeping them from setting bad examples for youngsters.
Only last month, Jaycee Chan, Jackie Chan’s son, was arrested for a suspected drug offence, adding to the long list of celebrities that have lately had a fall out with the law. The broadcast authorities have appealed to media to either not invite the fallen celebrities for even advertisements or suspend their statements from radio or television.
So far, China has many B-list celebrities in detention for charges related to either drug use or prostitution, including movie and TV stars, film directors and a prominent screenwriter.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged to actively deal with corruption and excess among the elite, which is a major source of public discontent, with the ever-widening gap between the poor and the wealthy.
The state’s Ministry of Public Security had commanded police across China earlier this year to get cracking on drugs, gambling and prostitution.
Photo Credits: Reuters
