Another Zhang Ziyi Scandal
Who hates Zhang Ziyi enough to hurt her?
What was supposed to be Zhang Ziyi’s (章子怡) definitive answer to critics saying she shortchanged victims of the Sichuan earthquake two years ago has raised as many questions as she answered.
The China Daily interview (here) with film and culture critic Raymond Zhou (周黎明) appeared to be a comprehensive and transparent look at “Donations Gate,” as it appeared in Chinese, English and videotaped form.
Zhou conducted the interview with a “straight bat” and asked questions at length.
However, it did not satisfy the critics and Zhou was targeted as a collaborator. The saying, “don’t shoot the messenger” comes to mind.
Though not all Zhang’s answers were entirely convincing this is only seemed to prove she’s not a professional charity organizer and made mistakes (which she admitted). And maybe that she didn’t care as much as she professed to.
As for choosing to do the interview with China Daily, rather than, say, the Wall Street Journal(she was offered), it makes sense for her to speak to the Chinese press. She is still Chinese, after all.
Also, it’s not as if she can do a Wyclef Jean and go on YouTube to defend herself (note to reader: Jean was also accused of profiting from his charity work after the earthquake in Haiti) because the service is not available in China.
Also, it’s not as if she can do a Wyclef Jean and go on YouTube to defend herself (note to reader: Jean was also accused of profiting from his charity work after the earthquake in Haiti) because the service is not available in China.
Negative Internet comments, in Chinese, are described as being “hit with a brick” (拍砖) and it’s still raining bricks for Zhang, raising the question, Why?
It appears there is a cabal of deep-pocketed individuals who have made it a life goal to further unseat the beleaguered actress.
The Donations Gate scandal first came to national attention after a post on Tianya website accused Zhang of handing over just only 840,000 yuan of the 1 million yuan (US$146,506) she promised for Sichuan quake relief work.
According to a deep-throat source, this was the initial strike in a concerted campaign to unseat Zhang by “50 Cent”bloggers who are paid to defame.
It costs 50,000 yuan for an experienced team comprising up to 100,000 freelancers to hurt a company’s reputation, or begin a hate campaign.
This same source alleges a maverick TV producer called “Tang Fei” has been roped in to organize the smear campaign and while 50,000 yuan (US$7,325) is usually enough to blacken a business competitor’s name, the mud may not stick.
Ten times as much will kick-start a campaign, but if you really want to get stuck in, like with the anti-Zhang Ziyi movement, you will need 10 times as much money, about 5 million yuan (US$732,525).
This begs the question who is paying and the likeliest candidates would appear to be Yu Guoxiang (郁国祥), aka “Little Ningbo”, and his wife, who has real estate and other interests.
Yu is the supposed Shanghai billionaire who frittered away the extraordinary sum of 200 million yuan (US$29.3 million) wining, dining and laying gifts at the feet of Zhang in an abortive attempt to win her hand.
He was introduced to Zhang by the socialite and publisher Zhao Xinyu (赵欣瑜).
Zhao reportedly felt so bad about Zhang playing with Yu’s emotions, sucking his cash teat, and abusing her trust, that she turned against her.
A scorned man, angry wife and jealous former friend, my source says, establishes the people and motives for funding and organizing the anti-Zhang campaign.
He says a lot of the negative comments that are posted are untraceable (a sign of the 50 centers) and the concerted nature of the campaign indicates a central intelligence with deep pockets.
In my opinion, at least Zhang has tried to do something for Sichuan relief and has put her hands in her own purse.
Zhang earning an easy, tax-free US$29.3 million in gifts from a suitor (though she’s engaged to another) and not turning it over to those who need it more, is not the point.
That is, who would really care about this? And is prepared to make the most of Zhang’s miscalculations and resultant misfortunes?
It’s an interesting theory and a great script.
Sources: EastSouthWestNorth
English: Legal statement
Chinese Versions For Further Reference: -
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