Chinese Entertainment Industry Figures Say They Won't Hire Drug Users
A spate of high-profile drug busts in the film community has prompted 16 leading film and TV companies to issue a joint statement saying they would not hire any stars involved in prostitution, gambling or drug abuse for their shows.
The move came after the detention of Jaycee Chan, son of veteran Hong Kong action starJackie Chan, along with Taiwanese actor Ko Chen-tung after they were caught smoking marijuana at a foot massage parlor in Beijing.
A subsequent police search of a home reportedly belonging to Jackie Chan where Jaycee was staying recovered 100 grams of marijuana and the bust could mean the end of his acting career, certainly in the current environment.
The drugs crackdown is affecting many entertainment venues in Beijing particularly. Earlier this month, Beijing police raided 2 Kolegas, a bar and live music venue popular with the city's expats and required patrons to take on-the-spot urine tests.
Australian journalist Stephen McDonnell who witnessed the bust said at least 10 people were arrested.
"We hold a zero-tolerance policy toward those who are involved in such misconduct and expect all stars and fellow workers in the business to be self-disciplined and strictly abide by the law," read the statement, which was signed by companies including Hengdian World Studios and Century Great Dragon. All the companies are located in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.
Earlier this month, the Beijing Trade Association for Performances and 42 Beijing performing-arts organizations signed an anti-drug commitment, promising not to hire any celebrities who used drugs for shows, according to a report in theBeijing Evening News. A number of industry figures have been detained in recent months for using drugs, including the screenwriter Chen Wanning who was known by his pen name Ning Caishen, and who tested positive for methamphetamine, police said.
Hong Kong actor Roy Cheung and mainland actor Gao Hu also fell foul of the dragnet, while director Zhang Yuan, was held for drug offenses at a Beijing railway station.
"The impact of the statement is limited for big-name stars who have a large number of fans and markets to make profits," Ying Xiaoqiang, a Hangzhou-based media observer, told the Global Times newspaper.
Ying suggested the authorities issue a regulation that forbids stars involved in drug abuse from participating in any entertainment activities within a certain period, like five years, and also ban the broadcasting of their programs or films.
Jachie chan didn't raise him well
ReplyDelete