'YOLO' director slams unauthorized weight loss products
Comedy movie hit "YOLO" director and actress Jia Ling, who shed over 50 kilograms during filming to reflect her character's weight loss, has slammed fake weight-loss products using her image.
The official Weibo account of "YOLO," a smash-hit comedy film that topped the 2024 Spring Festival box office in China, issued a statement on Tuesday which refuted any authorization for businesses to sell weight-loss products through her and the film's popularity.
For her leading role in the film, Jia embarked on an impressive weight-loss journey last year and slashed a remarkable 50 kilograms within one year, which created a significant online buzz and inspired a nationwide weight-loss trend.
The film grossed 3.46 billion yuan (US$478 million).
A combination picture shows Jia Ling speaking at a press interview following the 36th Golden Rooster Awards ceremony in Wuhan, Hubei Province, on July 30, 2022, and her at a roadshow event of the film "YOLO" in her hometown of Xiangyang in Hubei Province on February 15, 2024.
Jia Ling attends a film screening for "YOLO" held at Culver City in Los Angeles, California, on March 20, 2024.
Drawing upon the wave of immense popularity surrounding Jia's blockbuster and her weight-loss experience, relevant products have emerged on e-commerce platforms marketed under labels like "Jia Ling-style products" or "YOLO-style products."
According to a statement released on the Weibo account of "YOLO," neither its director Jia nor the film have endorsed or authorized any weight-loss or sugar-free beverages, food, or medicines, nor card games and beauty salons.
Images showcasing weight-loss products are attached to the statement.
The film's official Weibo account also cautioned consumers against falling victim to scams or misleading advertisements that exploit Jia's image or utilize deep fake technology.
Prior to this, Jia's own company Big Bowl Entertainment issued a statement on Weibo condemning unscrupulous businesses for their unauthorized use of Jia's images and falsely claiming Jia's endorsement or collaboration.
"Any claims of endorsements or collaborations that have not been announced through official channels (our company's official Weibo account or the artist's Weibo account) are false information," the statement read.
The company further stated that they have instructed lawyers to take strict legal action against these infringing activities.
