According to Chinese media outlet Sina, the unusual situation began in 2014, when Li Jinming participated in the reality program Celebrity Comes to My Home, a show in which celebrities experience life in rural communities. During the program, Li Jinming temporarily played the role of a newlywed bride living with a peasant family in Yunnan Province.
Although the arrangement was purely part of the show’s concept, the family reportedly began treating the situation as if it were real. They allegedly believed that Li Jinming had really become their daughter-in-law and began to impose household duties on her during filming. Reports claimed she had been forced to perform difficult manual labor, with family members insisting that harsh treatment was a form of treatment.
The situation reportedly escalated when the mother of the family encouraged her son to enter the actress’ room late at night in hopes of turning their imaginary relationship into a real one. After filming ended, the family reportedly resisted Li Jinming’s departure, insisting that she had already become a member of their family.
The family later filed a lawsuit against both the TV show and the actress, demanding that she fulfill what they described as marital responsibilities and seeking 200,000 yuan in compensation. The court ultimately rejected their requests.
In subsequent years, the family reportedly continued its fixation. They saved leftovers from meals Li Jinming ate during filming, kept his old room intact, and frequently posted messages online expressing how much they missed their “daughter-in-law.” Some posts stated that they were saving the livestock for his future return, while others suggested that the family’s son still missed his presence.
Even in 2026, the family reportedly continues to use Li Jinming’s image and name. They allegedly use wedding photos from the reality show as profile pictures on social media accounts and continue to present themselves as her relatives. Some posts still refer to the actress as their daughter-in-law, with one message from the so-called mother-in-law stating that she regularly enters Li Jinming’s old room because she misses his smile and scent.
Li Jinming rose to fame with her role as Chen Meijia in the hit television series iPartment. Known for her young and cheerful image, the actress faced unexpected criticism after appearing on Celebrity Comes to My Home. At the time, her family publicly accused her of being arrogant, leading some viewers to believe she looked down on rural people.
Since the public was not aware of the entire story, Li Jinming’s reputation reportedly suffered. In the following years she gradually withdrew from public activities and in the last five years she appeared less frequently in television productions.
After renewed attention over the family’s actions emerged online, Li Jinming said she had not been seriously affected by the situation and had suffered no lasting psychological damage. He also revealed that he has no plans to take legal action against the family despite the continued use of his name and image.
Many netizens, however, believe that the family’s behavior crossed the boundaries of normal social interaction long ago. Critics say the family blurred the lines between reality TV and real life, continuing to harass the actress for more than a decade and benefiting from her fame.
Sources: K14
