
Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi has threatened to sue over claims she
slept with a string of powerful Chinese Communist leaders and
businessmen, including disgraced politician Bo Xilai.
Zhang, who starred in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," and "Memoirs
of a Geisha," was alleged to have slept with Bo at least 10 times
between 2007 and 2011 in exchange for "huge" monetary gifts, British
tabloid the Daily Mail reported. The claims were reportedly made in a
Hong Kong tabloid.
Zhang was engaged from 2008 until 2010 to Israeli-American venture
capitalist Vivi Nevo. Her Chinese publicist said the claims were
outrageous.
"It sent stone-cold chills down our spines and has left us with a
feeling of deep sadness. Why should this devoted and responsible actress
have to suffer this kind of slander and defamation?" her publicist
said, according to the Daily Mail.
Channel News Asia said Zhang's management team released an open
letter strongly denying the reports. The letter also denied media
reports that Zhang was barred from traveling out of China while
authorities investigated the allegations. Zhang on Wednesday directly
addressed the allegations while attending a China film awards event in
Haikou, the capital of Hainan province.
"This 'news' is a complete lie. Both within the article and between
the lines, there were contemptuous lies," she said, according to Chinese
media reports.
Zhang added: "Whatever the cost, I will seek legal recourse and pursue this matter to the very end."
Bo, the former Chongqing party boss, was widely expected to be
promoted to China’s most powerful body, the Politburo Standing
Committee, before being sacked in March in one of the biggest political
scandals to hit China in years.