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The Chinese internet is expressing its collective disgust at the latest Chinese celebrity drug scandal, this time involving a famous Shanghai comedian.
Zhou Libo, 49, was arrested late on Friday in Long Island, New York after he was stopped for erratic driving. Nassau County police say a search of Zhou's car turned up a MKIV Mustang .380 pistol and two clear plastic bags containing crack cocaine.
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Zhou and a passenger named Shuang Tang, 30, have been charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal possession of a firearm. Additionally, Zhou was also charged with using a mobile phone while driving.
Zhou has since been released on USD 5,000 bail.
Zhou became popular working as a Shanghai comedian before breaking into Chinese television in 2011. Besides regularly serving as host on numerous televised events, Zhou gained mainstream success with the Chinese Dream Show for which he won the Starlight Award in 2012, China's highest honor for the television arts.
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A pinnacle of Zhou's career has been his performance at Carnegie Hall last summer, thereby becoming the first Chinese comic to be featured at the world-famous Manhattan performance venue.
Zhou is widely known for showcasing his acerbic personality during TV broadcasts that has endeared him to local Shanghai audiences. When he served as a judge on the localized version of China's Got Talent, Zhou lived up to the "Simon Cowell" villain role made famous on American Idol by treating contestants with derision and contempt.
Unfortunately, Zhou's abrasive television personality that won him his popularity may also be his undoing. In the wake of his arrest many Chinese netizens have shown little sympathy towards the controversial celebrity.
After his release from police custody, Zhou was seen smiling as he denied the charges, simply saying "Tomorrow will be a better day." Additionally Zhou responded to questions by a Chinese reporter by saying, "Chinese people should help other Chinese people."
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Unfortunately, many Chinese have balked at this statement. One top-rated comment used a popular meme to retort: "It may be that you are a 'fake' Chinese person because none of us want to help you." Another netizen blasted the celebrity's call for unity by saying, "Your moral character is so low that no one is willing to speak up for you."
Even if Zhou is able to regain public support, his career in China may likely be over.
Chinese celebrities involved in drug offenses are often blacklisted. The State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SARRFT) made a policy last year that banned all actors and hosts associated with drug and prostitution crimes from appearing in Chinese television and movies.
Last year's crackdown on drugs led to a number of celebrity scandals, most notable of which was Jackie Chan's son, Jaycee Chan, who lost numerous promotional deals after he was arrested and jailed for marijuana possession at his Beijing residence. As well, a CCTV host named Bian Ce is suspected of killing himself when police attempted to search his home for drugs last year.
Other blacklisted celebrities include Li Daimo, Zhang Yuan, Ning Caishen, Zhang Mo, He Shengdong, and Gao Hu.
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Images: Xinhua, Global Times, Glen Clove Patch, i9lou, Southcn