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| Bai Fangwen’s Unpaid Acting Fee Dispute Sparks Fresh Debate in China’s Short Drama Industry (Photo: Sohu) |
Chinese digital entertainment found itself under a fresh spotlight after short drama actor Bai Fangwen (aka Jiao Pei Kai) openly demanded his unpaid acting fees, turning a personal dispute into a wider industry conversation. On 1 February, the actor went live holding a handwritten sign asking for the return of his hard-earned money, directly calling out the production behind the upcoming short drama Lao Pian Men 2 for failing to settle his payment despite the project being scheduled for release.
During the livestream, Bai Fangwen explained that filming wrapped up last year, yet the promised fees never arrived. He urged the copyright-holding company, Chu Huai Culture, to clear all outstanding payments before the drama is made public, stressing that releasing a project while cast members remain unpaid is simply unfair.
Things escalated when someone claiming to represent the production entered the livestream, prompting Bai to respond in real time and reveal that legal proceedings over the payment issue had already been ongoing for months with no clear progress.
The situation grew more complicated as questions emerged about possible project transfers between companies.
Bai Fangwen openly questioned how the project’s ownership appeared to change, while promotions continued as if nothing was wrong.
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According to publicly shared information, Lao Pian Men 2 completed filming in May 2025, yet the payment dispute only surfaced after Bai’s public protest drew attention.
Chu Huai Culture later responded, stating that production funds had already been paid to the contracted production team and that the issue lay with unfinished deliverables rather than unpaid wages.
Bai Fangwen, however, maintained that as the copyright holder, the company still bears responsibility.
By 4 February, Bai confirmed he had received his acting fee, overtime compensation, legal costs, and penalty payments, but he continued to call for a public apology, saying the matter goes beyond personal compensation and reflects a larger issue affecting many industry peers.
Far from being a newcomer, Bai Fangwen, whose real name is Jiao Peikai, is one of the most active and recognisable faces in China’s short drama scene.
Since entering the field in 2022, he has appeared in dozens of short dramas and earned industry recognition, including a “Best Actor of the Year” title at a major digital creator event in 2025.
His decision to protest publicly has therefore raised eyebrows, as even established actors are still facing payment uncertainties.
Many viewers voiced support for Bai, praising him for speaking up and saying his actions reflected the reality faced by countless performers and crew members.
Others expressed disappointment at how common wage disputes have become, calling for clearer contracts and stronger accountability across production chains. A smaller group questioned whether such disputes should be handled privately, though even they acknowledged the structural problems exposed by the case.
Industry insiders note that unpaid wages are far from rare in the booming short drama market.
Rapid expansion, rising production costs, blurred responsibility between investors, producers, and platforms, and speculative capital chasing quick returns have all contributed to recurring disputes.
As budgets rise and competition intensifies, pressure often lands on performers and frontline workers first.
Bai Fangwen’s case has become more than a single conflict over fees. For many observers, it symbolises the growing pains of an industry racing ahead faster than its regulations.
What do you think, should public action be the last resort for creators, or is speaking out the only way real change happens?