Chinese actor Huang Xiaoming issues denial and apology over links to stock price manipulation and scandal-hit vaccine maker Changsheng Bio-tech
He becomes the latest Chinese A-list movie star under fire over finances as Beijing turns up the heat on celebrities
Huang Xiaoming, one of China’s highest paid male actors, has denied being involved in stock price manipulation and investing in a vaccine maker found by the Chinese regulator to have produced substandard products – but apologised for his “indiscretion in wealth management” after the revelation of his link to a private wealth manager found guilty of manipulating prices.
A statement on social media by the actor, who has been referred to as China’s Brad Pitt, just after midnight on Wednesday came after The Economic Observer, a Chinese-language weekly, reported that Huang was questioned for three hours by Chinese investigators because his money was related to the prosecuted private wealth manager.
He was not charged with any wrongdoing, according to the report.
Huang also said he had never taken part in the purchase of Changsheng Bio-technology stock, denying reports that he was a key investor in the vaccine maker that is at the centre of China’s biggest public health crisis in recent years.
The exposure of Huang’s ties to a stock price manipulation scandal came at a time when the Chinese government is upping scrutiny of the country’s celebrities’ financial deals.