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| Li Mingde Cancelled: Actor Jailed, Banned, and AI-Replaced After Car Rage Incident |
The curtain’s officially closed on actor Marcus Li a.k.a Li Mingde’s showbiz career — and not in a graceful way. The once-rising star of Chinese entertainment has just been handed a 6-month jail sentence and fined ¥200,000 (approx. $27,500) after being found guilty of intentional property damage… all for smashing up a director’s luxury car while drunk.
And if that’s not dramatic enough, his role in upcoming August 2025 Chinese drama has already been replaced via AI face-swap tech. Welcome to 2025.
🎬 What Actually Happened?
The chaos dates back to 27 January 2025, when Li Mingde — allegedly under the influence — lost the plot in Beijing’s Chaoyang District. According to court documents, he kicked and damaged the Mercedes-Benz belonging to director Yang Yang (not to be confused with the actor of the same name), leaving the car’s emblem, door, and mirrors in bits.
Initially, he seemed willing to make peace. At the police station, he signed a mediation agreement and agreed to pay around ¥90,000 in repair costs. But the next day? U-turned completely. He blocked Yang on WeChat, refused to pay, and even demanded an apology from the car’s actual owner. Yeah. That happened.
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⚖️ The Court's Verdict
Fast forward half a year, and the court wasn't having it. Here’s what the judge ruled:
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Malicious intent was confirmed
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No suspended sentence was granted
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Compensation amount increased to ¥200,000, including the repair bill and emotional losses
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Immediate imprisonment for 6 months
Legal experts say the case is a textbook example of how celebrities can’t play by their own rules. Just because you’re famous doesn’t mean the law won’t catch up.
📉 Career Fully Cancelled — And AI Has Taken Over
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In an almost sci-fi twist, Marcus Li’s face has now been digitally erased from the upcoming historical drama “Legend of the Female General” (《锦月如歌》), where he played the male lead. Production has confirmed that actor Xia Zhiyuan has taken over the role — without a single reshoot, thanks to face-swap technology.
According to insiders, the decision was made the moment his sentencing became public. “The platform didn’t want the drama associated with controversy,” one source said. “AI was the fastest fix.”
📺 The Downfall Wasn’t Sudden — Just Messy
For those wondering, “Wait, who’s Li Mingde again?” — he made headlines earlier this year for calling out the drama Three’s Company (《三人行》), claiming he was pushed out unfairly and accusing co-star Ma Tianyu of diva behaviour.
Turns out, that story had some plot twists of its own.
The drama crew fired back, saying Li Mingde was actually the one who went MIA, threw tantrums, and even damaged hotel property. His contract was terminated the same day. Days later, Marcus Li announced his “retirement” from acting on 9 January — but many saw it as just a PR move, especially since his livestreaming account got permanently banned that same day for “manipulative controversy.”
🧃 It Gets Worse: Allegations Kept Coming
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After the car-smashing saga surfaced, a woman claiming to be Li’s ex-girlfriend posted online alleging he had abused animals, trashed cars while drunk, and emotionally manipulated her — including freezing her out and kicking her out of their home.
Not long after, director Yang Yang stepped forward as the car victim, posting chat receipts and confirming the wild sequence of events — from the broken promises to the WeChat block.
By 11 February, police confirmed Li Ming De had been arrested. Two days later, he was officially criminally detained.
📵 A Celebrity Cautionary Tale
This whole fiasco wrapped up on 31 July, when Yang Yang posted on Weibo, saying:
“It took half a year, but the matter is finally settled. A six-month sentence and ¥200,000 compensation. I hope he reflects and lives his life better from now on.”
He then signed off, saying goodbye to Weibo, deleting the app, and thanking those who supported him throughout.
Legal experts are calling it a perfect example of China’s efficient justice system — just six months from incident to verdict, and a stark reminder that no amount of followers, fans, or flash can protect you from consequences.
As for Li Mingde? From righteous whistleblower to full-on legal liability, his story’s now a prime example of how fast things can crash and burn — even faster than a face-swap AI replacement.