Demanding an apology ... Zhang Ziyi
CROUCHING Tiger, Hidden Dragon star Zhang Ziyi has demanded an apology from a newspaper after it claimed she slept with a disgraced Communist party boss for money.
Reports claimed the Chinese star slept with disgraced leader Bo Xilai at least TEN
times between 2007 and 2011.
The reports claim she negotiated similar deals with several other powerful men, including Bo’s close friend Xu Ming, a billionaire tycoon that the Chinese authorities are investigating for alleged corruption.
They allege she earned more than £70MILLION from prostituting herself.
Zhang, 33, denied the claims, saying they were “completely untrue” and “extremely ridiculous”.
Her publicist said: “We read this outrageous report in the Apple Daily. It sent stone-cold chills down our spines and has left us with a feeling of deep sadness.
“Friends have advised us to release a short statement and not take this seriously.
"The more you argue, the more you will stir up. It would be better to step aside until people lose interest and the lies disappear. The innocent will always be innocent.”
Zhang’s lawyers have demanded Apple Daily publishes an apology and a full retraction.
Zhang ignored the allegations when she appeared at the 10th Chinese Film Media Awards earlier this week.
Media reports questioned her absence from the Cannes Film Festival, where her new movie — a Chinese version of “Dangerous Liaisons” — was being promoted.
Some reports said the authorities in Beijing prevented her from leaving the country while they investigated the claims.
Bo’s downfall, involving allegations of murder, jealousy and sexual indiscretion, has become China’s biggest political scandal in more than two decades and had a damaging effect on China’s governing class.
The former senior leader, whose populist policies won him many supporters, was purged after his wife became a suspect in the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood last year.
Bo had been seen as a candidate to join China’s new top leadership team before the scandal broke and party officials fear his ousting and the corruption investigations threaten party unity.
The reports claim she negotiated similar deals with several other powerful men, including Bo’s close friend Xu Ming, a billionaire tycoon that the Chinese authorities are investigating for alleged corruption.
They allege she earned more than £70MILLION from prostituting herself.
Zhang, 33, denied the claims, saying they were “completely untrue” and “extremely ridiculous”.
Her publicist said: “We read this outrageous report in the Apple Daily. It sent stone-cold chills down our spines and has left us with a feeling of deep sadness.
“Friends have advised us to release a short statement and not take this seriously.
"The more you argue, the more you will stir up. It would be better to step aside until people lose interest and the lies disappear. The innocent will always be innocent.”
Zhang’s lawyers have demanded Apple Daily publishes an apology and a full retraction.
Zhang ignored the allegations when she appeared at the 10th Chinese Film Media Awards earlier this week.
Media reports questioned her absence from the Cannes Film Festival, where her new movie — a Chinese version of “Dangerous Liaisons” — was being promoted.
Some reports said the authorities in Beijing prevented her from leaving the country while they investigated the claims.
Bo’s downfall, involving allegations of murder, jealousy and sexual indiscretion, has become China’s biggest political scandal in more than two decades and had a damaging effect on China’s governing class.
The former senior leader, whose populist policies won him many supporters, was purged after his wife became a suspect in the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood last year.
Bo had been seen as a candidate to join China’s new top leadership team before the scandal broke and party officials fear his ousting and the corruption investigations threaten party unity.
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