Once a powerhouse in Chinese cinema, Huang Xiaoming is now facing a significant career crisis after publicly dating social media star Ye Ke. Their relationship has become tabloid fodder, not because of personal disputes but because Ye Ke often exploits her boyfriend’s fame, offending a significant portion of the entertainment industry.
To address the worsening situation, Huang Xiaoming recently broke his silence at the premiere of his new film The man with the wig. Holding back tears, he expressed regret over the controversy caused by Ye Ke:
“I am deeply saddened and apologize to everyone. My current emotional state is unstable and I fear that my personal problems may affect the film. I am grateful to the friends and colleagues who are here with me today. I desperately need your support. I have read your messages and will do my best to handle all personal matters appropriately. Finally, I bow and sincerely apologize to everyone.”
His visibly haggard appearance and exhausted demeanor have left fans and colleagues concerned for his well-being.
On September 19, Huang Xiaoming shocked Asia by confirming his relationship with Ye Ke via a Weibo post:
“Sorry for the occupation of public resources. Please stop speculating: we are together now,” he wrote, tagging Ye Ke.
However, instead of supporting his partner’s career, Ye Ke’s actions have put the actor in a precarious position.
According to QQ, Ye Ke’s live streams often spark heated debates. He once criticized Wu Bai’s songs as “vulgar”, angering the respected veteran singer, who retorted:
“I’ve been singing half my life, and this is the first time anyone has said that about my music.”
Furthermore, on the occasion of Jolin Tsai and David Tao’s birthdays, Ye Ke brazenly dismissed their music as “crazy and difficult to sing”, adding fuel to the fire.
Since making his affair with Ye Ke public, Huang Xiaoming has often trended on social media, not for acclaimed works but for scandals related to his girlfriend. Rumors accuse Ye Ke of having attended training courses for “gold diggers”, of having a history as a lover and of having blackmailed Huang Xiaoming with a pregnancy to avoid a breakup, asking for the staggering sum of 270 million yuan (about 37 million of dollars).
Public outrage has poured into Huang Xiaoming’s career. His recent drama Red Heat performed poorly, with ratings hovering around 0.8%, far below CCTV8’s usual base level of 1.4%-1.5%. The controversies surrounding Ye Ke have left audiences disinterested in the actor’s work, with netizens harshly criticizing his acting, script and character portrayals.
After more than two decades of solid reputation, Huang Xiaoming’s public favor plummeted within months due to a partner described as manipulative and lacking in emotional intelligence. Fans and critics alike are wondering whether the actor can recover from the damage inflicted on both his personal life and professional career.
