How much did Fan Bingbing’s tax scandal damage her reputation as a luxury brand ambassador?
The Chinese actress gained fame after appearing in the X-Men and Iron Man film franchises, but had the likes of Louis Vuitton, Montblanc and Guerlain worried after being hit with a US$129 million tax bill
This article was originally written by Yiling Pan and was published on Jing Daily.
Fan Bingbing’s tax scandal came to an end following her official apology in October, but how much did it hurt the Chinese actress’ role as a brand ambassador and key opinion leader for the likes of Louis Vuitton, Montblanc and Guerlain?
China’s tax authorities ordered her to pay US$129 million in overdue taxes and fines in October.
The issue was nerve-racking for many luxury brands as they risked public backlash due to their close relationships.
A new report by the Hong Kong-based data firm ParkLu, based on their database and analysis, offered a glimpse of the impact now the dust is finally settling.
Its analysis aimed to understand Fan’s changing image among influencers following the scandal, as well as the consequences it might have for brands.
Starting in May, Chinese celebrity host and Weibo influencer Cui Yongyuan (“崔永元”) accused Fan of tax evasion.
The accusation drew public attention and sparked heated discussions.