Ex-top Chinese star Li Yifeng hit with $54.3M asset freeze after prostitution scandal

Chinese actor Li Yifeng, previously detained over multiple incidents of soliciting prostitutes, has had a 49.9 million yuan (HK$54.3 million) asset freeze enforced on his company by Beijing Authorities yesterday (Aug 21), bringing the actor—who has largely stayed out of the public eye for nearly three years—back into the spotlight.

The 38-year-old actor, once celebrated as one of China’s “Top 10 Representative Figures” and the youngest recipient of the China TV Golden Eagle Award for Best Actor, disappeared from the public eye for three years after the scandal erupted in 2022. His films and drama series were removed from Chinese streaming platforms, and several brands, including Prada, ended partnerships with him.

Li reportedly staged a tentative comeback in early 2025, holding a concert in Bangkok, Thailand.

The asset freeze is believed to be linked to compensation for advertising contract breaches and the inability to broadcast his works due to the scandal. The case has drawn significant media attention, highlighting the repercussions of legal and ethical misconduct for public figures in China.