Gong Li, 55, Reportedly Renouncing Singapore Citizenship
There were rumours that the actress, who became a Singaporean in 2008, was blacklisted in China for holding a foreign passport.
There were rumours that the actress, who became a Singaporean in 2008, was blacklisted in China for holding a foreign passport.
A month after Nicholas Tse revealed that he is renouncing his Canadian citizenship comes news that Gong Li is no longer Singaporean.
The 55-year-old was granted Singapore citizenship in 2008, more than a decade after her 1996 wedding with local tobacco tycoon Ooi Hoe Seong.
Though they divorced in 2010, Gong Li, who is now married to French musician Jean-Michel Jarre, still holds Singapore citizenship, which has gotten her flak from Chinese netizens who accused her of “earning Chinese money while refusing to be identified as one”.
Recently, the Chinese government launched Operation Qinglang, that seeks to ban bad behaviour on the internet as well as the cultural and entertainment sectors.
Among the rumoured approaches that they are employing is the blacklisting of Chinese celebs who are foreign nationals, and Gong Li was among those that are believed to have been affected.
Now, Chinese media are saying that Gong Li has renounced her Singapore citizenship and has applied for Chinese citizenship.
Netizens have had mixed reactions to this piece of news, with some lauding her for her “patriotism, even if it came a little late”.
Others have blasted her for “only doing so to protect her wallet”.
Photos: PBE Media
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