On September 9, the Chinese entertainment industry was shaken by unexpected news. Producer Chen Yitao—known for works like Well-Intended Love (《奈何BOSS要娶我》)—publicly announced that Xu Kai has been removed from the upcoming drama Ting Feng Ling (《听风令》) due to gambling-related allegations. Originally set to star as one of the two male leads alongside Wei Zheming, the series has now been restructured, with Wei Zheming taking the sole lead.
In his post, Chen addressed whistleblower Xu Lisha directly, stating, “Meimei, that’s enough,” and issued a warning: if the revelations continue, investors behind Xu Kai’s three other upcoming dramas—Huo Chang Zhui Xiong (《火场追凶》), Yi Ou Chun (《一瓯春》), and Fangyuan Baibai Mi (《方圆八百米》)—might start to “tremble in fear” over the potential financial fallout.
While Chen’s tone appeared conciliatory on the surface, his choice of words revealed the deeper anxiety and damage control efforts of the production side. Claiming he’s “not afraid to offend anyone” and “was already blocked by Yu Zheng,” Chen went further to imply that “poor judgment in people isn’t exclusive to young girls—investors regret it too,” hinting at the erosion of industry trust brought on by Xu Kai’s controversy.
This incident underscores the harsh reality of how production companies today show zero tolerance for public relations risks. If a celebrity crosses legal or moral lines, recasting is swift and projects are paused—no one wants to suffer a catastrophic loss like the Jade Lovers (《翡翠恋人》) case.
And this time, the allegations are no trivial matter. According to reports, Xu Kai has been involved in organizing high-stakes group gambling sessions in his Hengdian villa since 2021, with annual gambling sums exceeding one million RMB. While Xu has previously faced minor scandals—such as cheating rumors—the public mostly viewed those with a “gossip mindset.” However, gambling, especially organized group gambling, crosses a serious legal line. Local police in Dongyang, Zhejiang confirmed they are “aware of the situation.” Though a case has not yet been filed, if verified, Xu could be charged under Article 303 of China’s Criminal Law, which carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison.
The greatest concern for investors lies in the fate of Xu Kai’s other major upcoming dramas. In the historical political drama Yi Ou Chun, he stars as a fallen noble alongside Zhou Ye. In Fangyuan Baibai Mi, a contemporary social drama, he plays a young miner involved in a deep exploration of humanity and justice with co-stars Ding Yongdai and Deng Enxi. In the investigative professional series Huo Chang Zhui Xiong, he takes on the role of a fire investigator, partnering with Du Chun and Liu Yitie to solve arson cases. These productions span diverse genres and have multi-million-yuan budgets. If they’re shelved due to legal concerns surrounding Xu Kai, both production studios and streaming platforms stand to suffer enormous financial losses.
From personal controversies to legal risk, and from casual online gossip to full-scale industry distancing, Xu Kai’s situation exposes the fragility of risk management in the Chinese entertainment sector. Who will be the next celebrity to face public exposure? More importantly, before chasing the next viral star, perhaps it’s time the industry prioritized basic moral and legal standards.
