Source: China Real Time, WSJ (7/18/16)
Taiwanese Actor Leon Dai Loses Part in Zhao Wei Film After Political Pressure in China
By Lilian Lin
Zhao Wei pictured at the 34th Hong Kong Film Awards in 2015. Ms. Zhao is the director of the film “No Other Love, ”which was to star Taiwanese actor Leon Dai. PHOTO: JOYU WANG/THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
An upcoming Chinese romance film has turned into a political drama, as pressure from Chinese patriots online led to its lead character being removed for his alleged support of Taiwanese independence.
Leon Dai, an award-winning Taiwanese actor and director, lost his part in “No Other Love,” the second movie directed by Zhao Wei, one of the country’s most popular actresses and directors, according to a statement released last Friday on the film’s official Weibo account.
The ax falls weeks after Mr. Dai was accused by local online reports of supporting Taiwanese independence as well as Falun Gong, a spiritual movement that is banned by Beijing.
The reports feature photos and media coverage of Mr. Dai participating in political and social movements that are regarded as offensive by Beijing, including the “sunflower movement” in Taiwan in 2014, which protested a trade pact with the mainland, and screenshots of Mr. Dai in an interview supporting gala shows launched by Falun Gong practitioners.
Many online called for the film, which finished shooting late June, to be boycotted. The film is backed by a slate of local studios including Alibaba Pictures, the film arm of the internet giant Alibaba Group. Alibaba declined to comment.
The statement on the movie’s Weibo account said it will be “replacing this film’s lead actor Leon Dai,” but it is unclear whether the whole movie will have to now be remade. Mr. Dai was the main character.
The online attack comes at a time when activity on the country’s social media platforms is agitated after a court’s unfavorable ruling for China on the South China Sea. The social-media protests were backed up by national media, including the military newspaper, which asked Ms. Zhao not to “touch the bottom line” of “national feelings.”
“It is forbidden to allow some people to make money in the mainland while supporting Taiwanese independence,” the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League wrote.
Both Mr. Dai and the studio released separate statements in June to deny that he supported Taiwanese independence, but his statement was deemed “ambiguous” by some people online and failed to cool the abuse towards him and Ms. Zhao.
“Shameless,” said one Weibo user. “If you want to whitewash yourself, at least be more genuine.”
The nationalist fervor also targeted others who aren’t directly involved in the film. Kiko Mizuhara, a Japanese-American model and actress, denied accusations that she made offensive comments towards China, in a video released last Friday. The video was released after Ms. Zhao denied the rumor that Ms. Mizuhara features in the film.
After Mr. Dai’s removal was announced last week, Ms. Zhao apologized on her Weibo account, saying she would uphold the principle that “the interest of a country and a nation is beyond anything.” Mr. Dai posted his “deepest apologies” for the trouble on his Weibo account.
It is not the first time that a Taiwanese star has said sorry for a political stance. Chou Tzu-yu, a 16-year-old Taiwanese singer in a Korean pop group, earlier this year apologized after appearing with a Taiwanese flag on a variety show on South Korean Television.
Nor is Mr. Dai the first actor to lose a part for getting on the wrong side of the authorities. “Monster Hunt,” the record-breaking Chinese fantasy film, was remade in 2015 after Kai Ko, its lead actor, was arrested amid a drugs scandal. China’s film regulators ban movie stars that break the law from featuring in domestic films.
While many web users are applauding Mr. Dai’s removal, some people in the industry have shown concern.
“It creates a precedent that would bring endless troubles,” said film critic Liewen on his verified Weibo account.
Others compared the precedent with the Cultural Revolution, criticizing the online violence.
“To me, whether it’s worth watching a film does not relate to whether the actor supports Taiwanese independence or takes drugs,” said one web user. “How can watching a person’s film contribute to supporting bad practices? What are you? The Little Red Guards?” the person added, referring to the group which worked to support chairman Mao Zedong during the 10-year period of political turmoil.
– Lilian Lin. Follow her on Twitter @lilianlinyigu