What Caused Evan Li Yifeng to Be Fined $30M After Career-Ending Scandal

Li Yifeng Back in Headlines as Huge Fine Confirms Ongoing Fallout (Photo: Weibo/EFeng)

It’s been nearly three years after his dramatic fall from grace, former top-tier Chinese actor Li Yifeng is once again back in the headlines — and not in the way fans might have hoped.

According to fresh reports, Li Yifeng and his affiliated companies have been ordered to cough up around RMB 210 million (roughly US$30 million) in fines, the latest blow in a long chain of troubles since his 2022 scandal.

At the height of his career, Li Yifeng was one of China’s most bankable stars, fronting major dramas, films, and brand deals. That all came crashing down in September 2022, when Beijing police detained him on multiple counts of soliciting prositutes. 

At the time, authorities issued a rare official statement confirming that “Li Yifeng confessed to repeatedly visiting illegal stuff” and was placed under administrative detention. His contracts, endorsements, and projects were swiftly cancelled, effectively wiping him from the entertainment map overnight.

Court Orders Massive Penalty

Just when it seemed his career could not sink further, court records now show that Li and companies he invested in were hit with a penalty amounting to more than RMB 210 million. 

The fine reportedly ties into unresolved legal and financial fallout from the scandal years ago, confirming that his troubles have extended far beyond reputation alone.

Fans Torn Between Loyalty and Disappointment

On social media, reactions were sharp. One disheartened netizen wrote, “You once had a bright future ahead of you, it’s a shame to see it end like this.” 

Another remarked that the only news about him nowadays is negative, adding, “I wish it was different, but this is all we get.”

And yet, despite the controversy, Li Yifeng’s core fanbase has not disappeared. In 2024, he secretly launched a private social media account which drew enormous traffic before being shut down within a week. 

In April this year, loyal fans even flew to Thailand to attend his solo concert, where they filled the venue with his signature green lightsticks, showing their support despite his tarnished image.

A Career Beyond Rescue?

With the fine now public, speculation is swirling over whether Li Yifeng can ever make a proper return to showbiz. Some argue his fan devotion proves a comeback isn’t impossible, while others believe his name is permanently blacklisted in China’s tightly controlled entertainment sphere.

Either way, one thing is certain: the former golden boy of Chinese drama is now a cautionary tale of how quickly fame can vanish — and how heavy the price of controversy can be.

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