Wang Chuanjun has starred in a host of popular television shows in China. - Photo: Weibo
BEIJING: Wang Chuanjun, one of China’s most celebrated actors has sparked controversy and debate by paying a fine to park security guard to allow his daughter to pick fruit from a tree.
Having starred in top-rated TV dramas and films, Wang is best known for his portrayal of Sekitani Kamiya in the romantic comedy TV series iPartment, which enjoyed the highest ratings in China during its broadcast.
In 2018, he gained wider acclaim for his role as a leukaemia patient in the blockbuster Dying to Survive, which grossed more than three billion yuan (US$420 million) at the box office.
To authentically depict his character’s frailty and desperation in one significant scene, he reportedly underwent two days and nights without sleep.
However, on Tuesday (Nov 5), the hashtag “Wang Chuanjun paying a fine for his daughter to pick persimmons” trended on social media, together with a video showing him and his daughter strolling in an undisclosed park.
The video captured the moment when the little girl, captivated by the persimmons hanging from a tree, was lifted onto Wang’s shoulders to reach them.
Despite their efforts, the girl could not reach the fruit, only leading a park security guard to intervene and explain that fruit picking in the park was not allowed.
However, to please his daughter, Wang negotiated with the security guard and agreed to pay a fine.
Afterwards, he jumped to reach the tree and plucked a persimmon for his daughter.
In previous interviews, Wang has shared his parenting philosophy, emphasising the importance of keeping promises to children as they remember everything.
“You cannot lie to children. They remember every single thing you tell them. If you keep your promises, they’ll be very happy. If you don’t, they might suddenly start ignoring you.” he told New Weekly.
Wang’s wife, Qi Xi, 40, is also a celebrated actress in China, renowned for her performances in artistic films.
While the specific amount Wang paid as a “penalty” was not disclosed, the incident sparked a heated debate and divided public opinion on mainland social media.
Some viewed his actions as heartwarming, with one commenter saying.
“That’s how you should raise a girl, satisfy all her needs now so she will not be deceived later! And paying the fine sets an example for the child too.”
Others saw the practicality of his actions.
“I see no problem. If you don’t pick them, they’ll just fall and rot on the ground, which is harder to clean up. Why not eat them instead of letting them go to waste?”
However, many said that fines are meant to maintain public order, not encourage rule-breaking through payment, suggesting that it is also crucial to instil a sense of following public rules among children.
“Wang is sending his daughter the message ‘if you have money, rules do not apply to you’,” one person said.
“Indulging his daughter like this, it is hard to say what her character will be like when she grows up. It simply taught her that money can justify everything,” said another. - South China Morning Post
