Phoenix 24
The investor allegedly cast herself as the female lead and included more than 60 kissing scenes in a production of just over 50 episodes.
BEIJING, China — August 2026. A wealthy Chinese woman has generated controversy after reportedly financing a short-form television drama in which she played the lead opposite one of her favorite actors.
According to reports circulating through Chinese entertainment media and social networks, the investor used her influence over the production to secure the starring role despite not having an established acting career.
The series reportedly consisted of slightly more than 50 short episodes but featured over 60 kissing scenes between the woman and the male protagonist—an unusually high number even for a romantic drama.
Online commentators claimed that some of the scenes were added at the investor’s request. The precise amount she contributed to the project has not been independently disclosed.
The identity of the investor, the actor and the complete production team has not been widely confirmed, limiting independent verification of several details surrounding the viral story.
The case nevertheless provoked criticism over the power imbalance between investors and performers. Social media users questioned whether an actor working under contract could meaningfully object when the person financing the production also controlled its creative direction.
Others viewed the episode as an extreme example of China’s customized short-drama market, where private capital can rapidly finance productions designed for mobile platforms and highly specific audiences.
The short-form drama industry has expanded significantly in China, producing serialized stories with brief episodes, compressed filming schedules and lower costs than traditional television programs.
While private financing is common throughout the entertainment business, the controversy illustrates how creative authority, personal fantasy and economic power can become difficult to separate when one person acts simultaneously as investor, producer and star.
The truth is not imposed: it is demonstrated.