Zhang Ziyi wins apology from US website for 'sex with officials' reports
Print Edition
A US-BASED Chinese news agency has apologized to award-winning actress Zhang Ziyi for claiming she slept with top Chinese officials for money and gifts.
In a statement Boxun News said there was no evidence to support the claims and acknowledged it did not contact the actress before publishing the allegations last year. A spokesman for the 34-year-old said yesterday she will withdraw her lawsuit against the agency.
“Ms Zhang is confident that the public apology and retraction made by Boxun proves that the allegations are false,” said a statement issued on her behalf by publicist Raina Falcon. “As such, she will soon dismiss her lawsuit against the news agency, pending their adherence to a resolution agreement and as ordered by the court.”
In a piece posted on Tuesday on its English-language main page, the agency said it published a series of articles starting in May 2012 which included “negative and untrue information (about Zhang), including that she slept with wealthy and powerful men for presents and money.”
“These false reports ... should never have been published,” it said in the piece, entitled “Boxun News retracts reports about Zhang Ziyi.”
“As a result, Boxun News now renders its unreserved apology to Zhang Ziyi, has removed the entire series of articles .. from the Boxun News website, and issues this formal retraction.”
It continued: “Boxun News regrets the publication of these articles and any distress Zhang Ziyi may have suffered as a result of the articles.”
“The Boxun News reports ... were based on information provided to Boxun News by anonymous sources, who cannot support the information reported.
“Boxun News also failed to contact Zhang Ziyi before publishing the reports in order to enable her to respond to and refute the allegations.”
The agency “now acknowledges that its reports were insupportable and improper, and that Zhang Ziyi has never been questioned in connection with any investigation related to the allegations set forth in the Boxun articles,” it said.
“Boxun News recognizes and respects Zhang Ziyi’s extraordinary achievements in the international motion picture industry as well as her many civic and charitable efforts. Boxun News sincerely apologizes to Zhang Ziyi for the damage it has caused to her reputation and career.”
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
