Crystal Liu Yifei was nominated to receive the Golden Eagle Award for two of her dramas – Meet Yourself, her slice of life urban romance with Li Xian, and her costume historical A Dream of Splendor opposite Chen Xiao. But in an unexpected turn of events, when the second round of voting came around, the 37-year-old star’s name was suddenly nowhere to be found on the shortlist.
Shortlisted for an Award Then Removed
Many are speculating that the reason why Liu YIfei was suddenly out of the running for the Golden Eagle Award was because of her American citizenship. After all, based on the rules of the award, only citizens of the People’s Republic of China are eligible to participate in the award selection.
But that just begs the question, why was she included in the shortlist in the first place? Netizen’s spidey senses are saying this might all be a gimmick. Foreign nominees such as Chinese-Swiss actress Siqin Gaowa have also been removed. Liu Yifei’s fans are upset as they don’t believe showrunners would’ve forgotten their own rules during the first round of voting and feel the actress was used to draw buzz.
Liu Yifei Under Scrutiny for Holding Foreign Citizenship
It’s a known fact that Liu Yifei held American citizenship even when she was just a noob in the industry. What some may not be familiar with is how she came to be one. After her parents divorced when she was 10, Liu Yifei’s mum Liu Xiaoli who was previously a national dancer, moved them to the US where she remarried a Chinese lawyer in New York. Along with her mum, Liu Yifei became a naturalized citizen.
The recent awards controversy has turned attention back to Liu Yifei’s citizenship. Given China’s wave of nationalism, some Netizens criticize the actress who remains very active in Chinese entertainment for holding foreign citizenship. In recent years, stars like Nicholas Tse and Arthur Chen have renounced their foreign citizenship likely due to increasing pressure from the public. Nonetheless, Liu Yifei also has many supporters as she remains one of the top stars in C-ent who’s also earned recognition internationally through films like Mulan.
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Iamanon
That’s crazy. The fact that netizens want you to renounce your own citizenship bc you’re working in the Chinese entertainment is mind boggling. I swear everyday cnetz get crazier and crazier with their demands 🖕🏻
Anon
I don’t see anything crazy about it if the rules are already there in the first place. In all countries, if you are a foreigner, then you apply for a work permit. If a foreigner wants the same perks as the locals have, then the choice is his to choose whether he want to remain a foreigner or become a local (if he is given a choice). But for sure, you cannot have both.
The netizens did not demand that the celebrities renounce their citizenship. They were just voicing their opinions whether it is right for a person to stay in the country permanently, earn their big bucks in the country and yet not be loyal to the country.
Arthur and Nicholas basically decided that their whole lives are in China anyway and they make their own decisions to renounce foreign citizenship and obtain Chinese citizenship. They had only spent some childhood years in the foreign countries and has hardly any connections to them since they left school. Same with Crystal Liu. Her time in the US is very little and she only became American just because her mum remarried an American man when she was a child. By her mid-teens, she was already back in China. As an adult, she will have to choose one citizenship.
du
But that exactly is an issue. If foreigner works in any country and has legally sorted status (like working permit, residence, pays taxes in that country, probably invest as well, etc) than foreigner does everything exactly SAME as local and CANNOT be discriminated. What you are saying is discrimination at its finest. That is why people will always react on such nonsense. You can’t have both ways either you accept foreigner at equal footing as locals or not. That’s human rights and free labor issue.
Anon
Of course not. Foreigners on a work permit can never have the same status and rights as a local. Eg. in my country (a democracy, by the way), foreigners on a regular work permit are not allowed to own property, have access to welfare handouts or government subsidised services, participate in anything that is targeted as for “citizens” only or jobs that require citizenship status. The work permit is only for that particular job. A job change invalidates the work permit and a new one for the new job is required.
You are too naive . Every country has the right to protect itself and its own citizens. There is always a different status for foreigners. Otherwise, even western countries will not require restrictions such as refugee status, student visa, work visa, tourists visa, permanent residency visa etc. All have lesser rights than a full citizenship. Do not use human rights as an excuse. The “human rights” of its own citizens should be prioritised over any foreigner’s.
Maybe as a first step towards broadening your own knowledge, research the situation in your own country first. Then, go and lodge a protest against your own country’s official discrimination policies.
Du
I lived as a foreigner in 5 countries and invested in property, paid taxes, was given benefits during Covid, all same as locals. Not sure where do you live but may be you are nit well informed. In most countries if you have proper documents you are not discriminated .
Marokojin
She must be living in a Gulf country. I think India doesn’t allow foreigners to own property, and I don’t think they have welfare and stuff like that, so she must be from the Gulf (West Asia). For some of these countries, it’s understandable because the locals are a literal minority, and most working people are foreigners.
Rocket
Lol. It seems to be karma. I don’t like this actress. I don’t watch her shows. LYF is one of those Hanjians that seeks to reap profits from the C-ent industry but then goes and whores herself to a Korean. If China and South Korea didn’t have a fallout over THAAD deployment and caused LYF to break off her relationship to save her career in China she’d already be a mom to a half-Korean kid. This kind of Hanjian don’t deserve my respect nor NY awards!
XZF
@Rocket
I’m not her fans, but I do watch some of her projects. Do you need to be that mean? Please show some class and kindness with your comment because it does reflect on you. Thanks.
Rocket
If my comment triggered a few ppl you know I speak the truth. No response means I’m lying…
Xoxo
@Rocket
With all due respect you have a serious problem.
Get over yourself.
lol
LOL your comment triggered a response because you sound crazy, not because it’s the truth.
IamAnon
Whoah @Rocket. Calm down, we’re talking about citizenship status not attacking the actress herself 🗿
Back to @Anon’s comments I did not know this topic was that deep. I was mainly stating my own opinion so excuse my basic knowledge.
blueclue
No @Rocket, you’re not triggered anything. We’re just letting you know that you came off as racist, mean spirit and narrow-minded. Truly unnecessary. There’re many Chinese that marry outside of their races, do you consider them all Hanjian. I can name 2 Korean singers that marry Chinese women and currently active in c-ent.
What the hell did LYF did to you personally that you need to made that comment? Dude, if you don’t like an actors or actresses, don’t watch their work and move on with life. Actors and actresses do not owe any of us with the need to live to our expectation, LYF can marry anyone she wants.
Rocket
Sooo many ppl got triggered. I love it! 🙂 Real Chinese marry into their own race. All other Hanjians can whore themselves to others.
Xoxo
@Rocket – I’m surprised you don’t know that ‘Real’ Chinese and Koreans are of the same race. What rock have you been living under?
Usi
I’m just curious. As far I know it is especially difficult to renouce US citizenship. Some other other countries it is even totally impossibe (you can return the passport and claim you aren’t a citizen anymore but you are still). Are Chinese especially ignorant about the fact of international laws or nationalist on an extreme level?
DontAskMe
the fact that @Rocket came back to check the thread and commented just shows that bro got triggered.
you just played urself 💀
talking about whoring this whoring that…who hurt you man. Maybe you ain’t even Chinese yourself 😏