The Business of Fashion
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
The Chaoyang District People’s Procuratorate in Beijing approved the arrest of Chinese actor and singer, Kris Wu, on suspicion of rape after a legal investigation, it said on its official Weibo account on Monday.
According to legal sources, under Chinese law, the move shows that prosecutors and police have reasonable evidence to believe that Wu committed the crimes he has been accused of. Under China’s criminal law, the standard penalty for rape is three to 10 years imprisonment, though the punishment can be more severe, and include capital punishment in cases considered to be more serious.
All of the brands, including Louis Vuitton, that once partnered with Wu have already taken steps to distance themselves from the fallen star, by cancelling or ending their collaborations and removing posts related to him from social media accounts. Wu’s personal and company accounts have also been deleted by Weibo and his songs have been removed from various music platforms.
Learn more:
How to Avoid Brand Ambassador Controversy in China
Navigating China’s celebrity ecosystem has always been a high-risk, high-reward gamble for global luxury brands, but the stakes are even higher in this volatile, politically charged year.
Chinese celebrities made a comeback at the European shows this season, but the brands hosting them see the country’s A-listers as more high-risk, high-reward than ever amid fresh scandals and tightening government regulation.
Owners of international brands like Lanvin and Carven faced challenges in their home market under ‘zero-Covid’ rules but China’s economic recovery is now on the horizon.
Critics say they are dystopian, but ‘flawless’ virtual influencers may be worth considering in a market where celebrity brand ambassadors have become an increasingly risky investment.
Mainland shoppers have flocked to local tourism hubs like Macau and Hainan over Chinese New Year and are expected to visit Asian destinations like Thailand and Singapore before returning in droves to European fashion capitals later this year.