Chinese actor canceled after solicitation charges

Multiple brands have canceled their partnership agreements with Li Yifeng after the Chinese actor was detained on charges of solicitation.

In a statement on Sunday afternoon, the Beijing Public Security Bureau announced the administrative detention of a 35-year-old actor identified only as Li, adding that the man had confessed to soliciting prostitutes on several occasions. State broadcaster China Central Television later confirmed the full name of the actor on its official Weibo account.

So far,10 brands previously endorsed by the actor, including Prada and Zhenguoli, a beverage produced by leading dairy company Mengniu, have declared the termination of their partnerships.

In addition, the organizing committee of the Huading Awards announced on Sunday that it had rescinded the actor's titles of "Best Actor in China's Top 100 TV Dramas" and "The National Audience's Favorite Movie Star" obtained at the 22nd Huading Awards in 2017.

Before news of his detention was disclosed, his name struck from the list of celebrities expected to perform at CCTV's annual Mid-Autumn Festival Gala on Saturday.

A music video starring the actor introducing the work of prosecutors was also removed from the official Weibo account of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, for whom Li previously served as a promotional ambassador.

Born in Chengdu in Sichuan province, Li shot to fame after winning eighth place in the national finals of talent show, My Hero.

Li, whose Weibo account had 60.66 million followers, gained widespread attention for his roles in television dramas, including the Swords of Legends and Sparrow.

He also received the 33rd Hundred Flowers Awards for Best Supporting Actor in 2016 for his role in the film Mr. Six. Chinese-Canadian star Kris Wu, who also acted in the same film, was detained by Beijing police on charges of suspected rape last year. In June, Wu was tried on charges of rape and encouraging others to engage in promiscuous activities.