Celebrity fixation comes with pitfalls
Updated: 2016-04-16 09:01
By Li Fangchao(China Daily)
|
|||||||||
Photographs of a celebrity couple holding their 100-day-old daughter in their arms adorned the cover pages of newspapers' entertainment sections and flooded the homepages of many Chinese web portals recently.
The couple - actress Zhang Ziyi and her singer husband Wang Feng - threw a grand party for their daughter Xing Xing, which literally means "wake up".
Indeed, almost half of the country's entertainment circle "woke up" to the celebration. Dozens of A-list stars and top film directors showed up at what the media described as an "Academy Awards-style" celebration at a Beijing hotel on April 10. They showered the baby with gifts as traditionally one is expected to lavish a 100-day-old baby with the best goodies and wishes.
Not surprisingly, the dazzling celebration saw the media going into a frenzy. From the decoration of the party, the custom-made bassinet and expensive toys to the fancy clothes and jewelry Zhang Ziyi wore for the occasion, many newspapers and websites explored every tiny detail of the event. A rough estimate showed the couple splurged at least 800,000 yuan ($123,760) on the party.
A website even published a long list of luxurious birthday celebrations for celebrities' children. On the list is Cathy Chui, a Hong Kong-based actress who married a wealthy man, for reportedly spending about 8 million yuan on a two-day banquet for the 100-day-old party of her son.
Although there is no point in criticizing celebrities for spending staggering amounts on parties as long as they use their own money for the purpose, people could not help lamenting that some babies are born more equal than others.
The huge amounts celebrities expend on such parties may be pittance for them. But if used otherwise, it could help thousands of dropouts from poor families to return to school and, therefore, change their lives. Throwing a grand party for a baby that will not remember anything is more like flaunting one's wealth and connections.
- Global health entering new era: WHO chief
- Brazil's planning minister steps aside after recordings revelation
- Vietnam, US adopt joint statement on advancing comprehensive partnership
- European border closures 'inhumane': UN refugee agency
- Japan's foreign minister calls A-bombings extremely regrettable
- Fukushima impact unprecedented for oceans: US expert
- Stars of Lijiang River: Elderly brothers with white beards
- Wealthy Chinese children paying money to learn British manners
- Military-style wedding: Fighter jets, grooms in dashing uniforms
- Striking photos around the world: May 16 - May 22
- Robots help elderly in nursing home in east China
- Hanging in the air: Chongqing holds rescue drill
- 2.1-ton tofu finishes in two hours in central China
- Six things you may not know about Grain Buds
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Anti-graft campaign targets poverty relief |
Cherry blossom signal arrival of spring |
In pictures: Destroying fake and shoddy products |
China's southernmost city to plant 500,000 trees |
Cavers make rare finds in Guangxi expedition |
Cutting hair for Longtaitou Festival |
Today's Top News
Liang avoids jail in shooting death
China's finance minister addresses ratings downgrade
Duke alumni visit Chinese Embassy
Marriott unlikely to top Anbang offer for Starwood: Observers
Chinese biopharma debuts on Nasdaq
What ends Jeb Bush's White House hopes
Investigation for Nicolas's campaign
Will US-ASEAN meeting be good for region?
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |