Chinese dramas and films

The newly released drama "The First Jasmine" (Mo Li, 莫离) is proving to be highly problematic. While the series itself has not drawn significant criticism — the most common complaints being fairly standard fare (slightly slow pacing, actors "not quite measuring up") — a storm of negativity is building around it, with actress Bai Lu at the epicentre.

We previously covered the scandal involving her on the show "Running Man". That incident was not particularly serious; interpretations of star behaviour on reality shows often vary widely. Nevertheless, Bai Lu lost a large number of followers over it, and a wave of criticism also hit "The First Jasmine", which was released right as discussions about her conduct were at their peak.

But the matter did not stop there. The day after the premiere, screenwriter Meng Qiqi (on her Weibo account) claimed that her 11‑person team had spent a full year working on the script for "The First Jasmine", helping the project secure a top "S" rating on the Tencent platform. However, just before filming began, they were "completely thrown out", left with only the humiliating credit "draft team" in the titles. According to Meng Qiqi, this happened because Bai Lu wanted "her own" screenwriter. In response, the actress's studio owner, producer Yu Zheng, and the new screenwriter Li Zongchen demanded evidence, stating that the final version contained "not a single scene from the old team". Meng Qiqi countered that the scene in which the Empress Dowager catches the young emperor playing and scolds him was an original scene from her team. Her subsequent posts indicated that more scenes written by the former team had been discovered.

That alone might not have been a huge issue. Yes, the situation regarding copyright and workplace ethics within the production team is unpleasant, but not unusual. Sorting out who wrote what can be a long process; determining whether plagiarism occurred takes time. Such scandals often even make viewers pay closer attention to the series.

But then came the next wave of criticism – and this one, it seems to us, is very serious.

Netizens noticed a peculiar pattern: the state‑owned investment company Jiangsu Cultural Investment Group (江苏文投) has invested in projects involving Bai Lu with surprising frequency and consistency – at least four major dramas:

1. "Ordinary Greatness" (警察荣誉), 2022
2. "Only For Love" (以爱为营, 错撩), 2023
3. "Northward" (北上), 2025
4. "The First Jasmine" (Mo Li, 莫离), 2026

Jiangsu Cultural Investment Group is a key state‑owned company in China's cultural sector, established directly by the provincial party committee and government of Jiangsu. Its primary owner is the Finance Department of Jiangsu Province, which holds 67.18% of the shares, making it a crucial instrument of state control over the cultural sphere. The company was officially founded on 7 October 2015.

Jiangsu Cultural Investment Group has been investing in film projects since at least 2021, using both direct investments and various fund mechanisms. According to some sources, the company has over 60 film and theatre projects, of which 53 are investments in series. That is the reported order of magnitude, though figures may vary slightly.

Bai Lu's accusers argue that it is too strange that her projects have been financed four times while other projects struggle to find funding. Such "loyalty" from a state entity raises legitimate questions. Rumours began circulating on social media that the actress allegedly had a special relationship with a high‑ranking executive at Jiangsu Cultural Investment Group, who supposedly ensured this continuous flow of funding.

However, an analysis of the projects shows that several other actors have also received funding from Jiangsu Cultural Investment Group more than once.

Bai Jingting, Song Yi, and Li Qin each have two projects with the company. These include "Justifiable Defense" (正当防卫), "Destined" (长风渡), "Follow Your Heart" (颜心记), "Fated Hearts" (一笑随歌), and "Miles to Go" (人生之路). These involve both direct investments and co‑investments with other companies, including subsidiaries.

Of course, four projects are not the same as two, but it is clear that Jiangsu Cultural Investment Group may invest in projects featuring a particular actor on multiple occasions. There is unlikely to be any rule against this. Project selection should be based on a combination of factors; it would be strange to demand that no member of a production team ever repeats.

Bai Lu was bombarded with accusations not only of impropriety in obtaining investments but also of forging her diploma, inappropriate behaviour, and so forth.

On 12 June 2026, the Beijing Xingquan Law Firm, authorised by Bai Lu, publicly announced that it was initiating legal proceedings in a defamation case.

"As of 12 June 2026, we have completed the submission of materials for filing the lawsuit (the stage of disclosing the identity information). After the court orders the online platforms to disclose the real names of the aforementioned users, our law firm will continue to file lawsuits against those whose names appear on the platforms, demanding that they bear legal liability for the infringement, including public apologies and compensation for damages."

The studio released a statement that allegations of "falsification of academic qualifications, falsification of payment orders and illegal acquisition of actor status", "romantic relationships", "demanding the replacement of the screenwriting team", and "close ties with relevant employees of Jiangsu Cultural Investment Group" are defamatory, and that they will be pursued through legal channels.

Against this backdrop, it is interesting to see how the Chinese media cover the scandal. After all, a state organisation is involved.

At present, Xinhua, People's Daily, and CCTV are maintaining complete silence.

Regional state media such as The Paper (澎湃新闻), Dazhong (大众网), and Jimu News (极目新闻) are either simply reporting the news of the lawsuit or adding conciliatory commentary along the lines of "seeking truth through the law will allow the innocent to clear their name."

Jimu News writes: "Objectively speaking, some of the issues raised do indeed point to social problems worthy of further investigation. For example, were the evaluation criteria for conferring the title of 'Third‑Level Actor' strictly adhered to, and did Bai Lu's education and work experience meet the established standards — these questions concern fairness and justice, and the public has the right to demand answers. However, there is a clear legal boundary between doubt and defamation. The former is an objective analysis of facts, while the latter is a baseless interpretation of events. Looking at the recent scandals surrounding Bai Lu, it can be seen that many voices have deviated from objective analysis, crossing over into fabricated false information and deliberately inflating negative speculation."

The entertainment and commercial outlets Sina News and Sohu News are actively covering the scandal, while other tabloids typically just republish content.

Thus, at present the scandal is contained within the information bubble of the entertainment media. The regional press has reacted slightly, but the complete absence of reaction from People's Daily or Xinhua is a clear signal: for the party and the state apparatus, this scandal has not yet crossed the threshold of becoming an ideological threat requiring direct intervention (such as commentary in the "observer" column or the publication of a punitive editorial). For now, this is just an ordinary squabble in the entertainment industry. The system – the courts and laws – is being allowed to deal with the defamation, without blowing this local conflict into a nationwide discussion about state capitalism in show business. It is possible that if the scandal deepens and any impropriety in the distribution of funds is actually proven, the information will spill over into the official press. But for now, that has not happened.

Returning to "The First Jasmine": its ratings and viewership remain high, although the dynamics are uneven. The project is successfully competing with other new releases. The drama has become the leader in attracting advertising on the Tencent Video platform in 2026. On the very first day, seven advertising integrations were placed on the platform. Even before the premiere, the producers had agreed on partnerships with more than 13 brands in various fields, from cosmetics and tea to sportswear and even public transport. There is no information in accessible sources about the cancellation of advertising contracts or the departure of key partners due to the scandal surrounding Bai Lu.

Sources 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,  9