TVB Entertainment News

Last week’s viral rumor stating that China was going to be implementing a ban on all costume dramas sent everyone, including the media industry, into a frenzy. The ban was supposed to be in effect immediately until the end of June. If implemented, the ban would include genres such as “wu xia, fantasy, history, mythology, time travel, biography, palace struggles, and all costume dramas.”

The latest news reports that the strong opposition and reactions the ban caused has led the Chinese National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) to meet with the three major online platforms (iQiyi, Youku, Tencent) to discuss the ban. Based on these meetings, the NRTA has reconsidered the ban and has implemented a new set of restrictions.

Starting from April onwards, period dramas can resume airing, but must follow three new rules: “Before the 15th of each month, each online platform must go through the local NRTA bureau in accordance with their monthly airing schedule plan. The frequency of costume dramas must be regulated and proportionate. “Realistic” themed dramas must account for 60% of the broadcast plan. If the online license is not obtained, including the issuance license, the star’s license, the record, etc, then the drama cannot be scheduled for an air date or announced.” It is reported the three major online platforms have already signed an agreement on the new terms with the NRTA.

Hong Kong actress and model, Janice Man (文詠珊), is off the market. The 30 year old actress, who has been focusing her acting career in China lately, is getting married to her wealthy boyfriend, Carl Wu (吳啟楠), after five years of dating. The wedding will be held at a castle in Lake Como, Italy on October 12. When Apple Daily reached out to Janice Man, she responded back saying, “I won’t say much right now. Thanks to everyone for their concern.”

According to Apple Daily, the couple is keeping the wedding intimate, only inviting their nearest and dearest. It is said Janice Man wanted to keep the wedding small and considered the trouble in having elders on both sides of the family travel so far for their wedding. After discussing with their families, they decided to have another wedding banquet in Hong Kong for their relatives and friends.

Carl Wu, 35, is said to be a good catch as he is the third generation carrying the family fortune. His family has a history of being in politics and is well known for their businesses (duty free shops), in Shantou, China. It was also reported Janice Man was busy filming and promoting her series in China while preparing for the wedding. Carl Wu would purposely travel to China to discuss the wedding plans with his fiancee since she didn’t have time to travel back to Hong Kong.

Hong Kong actress, Karena Ng (吳千語), has been busy focusing on her career in China. In a recent interview with Apple Daily, she revealed that girls should have their own career. As for her romantic life, she says she is still looking for the one and claims she is single. It looks like she and Brian Sze (施伯雄) are no longer a couple.

Karena Ng got up close and personal with Apple Daily and says at this point in her life she is very clear on what she wants in life. She said, “I slowly realize women need to be their best in society. Career wise, know what you want to do for yourself. When I have a family in the future, I want to continue my career. That’s why I have to work hard now.” When asked if she is putting romance aside, she responds, “It is actually a form of wisdom. How to manage a relationship isn’t easy. It isn’t one sided. Both parties need to compromise. At this point, if I have a chance to date, I hope to find someone who understands me. If he doesn’t, it’ll be hard for us to be together.”

When asked if she has returned to being single, Karena Ng admits, “Yes, I am single. I don’t want to say too much now. When I reach another point, I will reveal more.”

K-Pop idol, Seungri of boy band, Big Bang, announced on Instagram today that he is leaving the entertainment industry. In his post, he expresses he has provoked a lot of social controversies and chose to leave showbiz at this time. He also says he will cooperate with the authorities in the ongoing investigation against the alleged illegal activities surrounding him.

Seungri expresses, “In the past month and a half, ever since the people started condemning and hating me to the authorities investigating me, I’ve been labeled as the nation’s thief. Because of me, it has brought pain to the people around me. This is something I won’t allow.” He also thanked all his fans, including overseas fans, for their support all these years and also apologized to them. He ended the post with, “To protect YG and Big Bang’s reputation, I can only go up to here.”

Seungri is currently being investigated as a suspect in the alleged illegal activities that were going on in his nightclub, “Burning Sun.” Local police authorities have confirmed finding evidence of group chats involving Seungri instructing his night club employees to arrange for pretty girls to sleep with overseas investors and clients. The police also alleges Seungri and two other male singers were sharing secretly filmed videos and pictures of girls in a group chat. Most of the pictures were secretly taken of drunk girls. Some of the videos include drunk girls engaged in sexual intercourse.

According to a YG representative, it was Seungri’s decision to leave showbiz. While Seungri is scheduled to enter the army on March 25th, authorities said they will expedite their investigation and won’t impact the ongoing case.

Hong Kong actor Joe Ma’s (馬德鐘), son, Xiang Ma (馬在驤), is following his father’s footsteps. It was revealed the 20 year old Xiang Ma recently signed with Shaw Brothers Studios, the same company as Joe Ma. However, he is no stranger to the public eye as he already some modeling experience when he walked the runway for Hermes in 2017. Xiang Ma is currently studying Mechanical Engineering in Australia. Joe Ma and his wife are often posting pictures of their son, who is an avid and decorated swimmer.

While there are no details on what parts of the entertainment industry Xiang Ma will be tackling, but it looks like Papa Ma has already groomed the younger Ma well.

TVB actress, Koni Lui (呂慧儀), shocked the entertainment industry when she and now ex-husband, Dickson Wong (黃文迪), announced their divorce on March 9th. While many of their celebrity friends showed concern and pity over their divorce, fellow TVB actress, Kelly Fu (傅嘉莉), posted a lengthy Instagram post throwing shade at Koni Lui and Dickson Wong for dragging her into a publicity stunt years ago.

The incident Kelly Fu is referring to goes back to 2013 when Dickson Wong uploaded a picture on Instagram of him holding hands with a female wearing black nail polish in a car. Not too long after, Koni Lui posted a response on Weibo saying she doesn’t recall wearing black nail polish. She asks Dickson Wong if he posted the wrong picture. This led to netizens trying to decipher the female in the picture. After some sleuthing, netizens determined it was Kelly Fu in the picture holding hands with Dickson Wong. It turns out Kelly Fu and Dickson Wong were once signed to the same modeling company. At that time, Kelly Fu was seen wearing black nail polish at an event a few days earlier. This is how she got labeled for being a cheater.

In her lengthy post, she explains how friends sent her news of Koni Lui and Dickson Wong’s divorce. She says seeing the picture from 6 years ago gets her mad and once to clear her name. Kelly Fu then says she was absolutely not the girl wearing black nail polish in the picture. She says she was considered good friends and colleagues with Koni Lui and Dickson Wong and was even a bridesmaid at their wedding. She explains she had black nail polish on at that time because she was attending different events and so she wore different events and matched different nail polish colors.

She continues to say, “Once the news came out, everyone’s reaction was “That hand is not Koni Lui’s. That car is not their seven seater car.” Why is that couple, who is holding each other’s hand, who is wearing black nail polish, who is in their own car, who took that picture, who uploaded that picture, would impact me? Why would reporters immediately think it was me? They said I was the one holding Dickson Wong’s hand. The next day, all the newspapers didn’t clear my name. They all said I was the one wearing black nail polish. I was given the label or “taking my friend’s husband.”

Kelly Fu finishes off saying, “Lastly, I want to say that as we were once friends before, it is a pity knowing they separated. I ask my friends to stop sending their news to me. Reporters also don’t need to keep asking me to comment about them.”

TVB actress, Koni Lui (呂慧儀), known for her role as “Mary” on “Come Home Love – Lo and Behold” (愛．回家之開心速遞), announced via Instagram on March 9th that she she and husband, Dickson Wong (黃文迪), have divorced. Koni Lui and Dickson Wong were married in 2011 and had a son, Anton, in 2014. Rumors of marriage discord started circulating when Dickson Wong was seen getting close with a petite girl. Koni Lui squashed the rumors when she revealed she and Dickson Wong had amicably decided to split up in 2018, going from a married couple back to being friends. She emphasized there was no third party involved in their break up and that they will have joint custody of their son.

There might have been some signs of trouble as Koni Lui used to share pictures of her family earlier in their marriage, but lately, she has only posted pictures of herself with Anton. The last public picture of Koni Lui and Dickson Wong together was on September 2, 2018, celebrating Koni Lui’s birthday.

Koni Lui’s co-star, Stanley Cheung (張景淳), said the news was quite sudden. He says Koni Lui is always jolly during filming and mentions her son a lot. When asked if he had consoled her yet, he said, “I told her to be strong, but she hasn’t responded yet. I think she needs some time to herself. I will console her when we work.”