HK actor Chapman To under fire

Hong Kong actor Chapman To (L) [File photo]

Hong Kong actor Chapman To's deprecating remarks towards Chinese mainland Internet users has sparked online outrage across the country with many people now calling for a To boycott.

In March, Chapman To posted numerous supportive comments on Taiwan's disapproval of the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement on his Facebook account and was 'attacked' by Chinese mainland Internet users, who held opposing views.

In response, To wrote, "Sometimes, when faced with the opinionated comments of Chinese mainland netizens, we don't have to put too much thought in to it. They are not that capable. They just happen to have enough money to go to the Internet café."

His deprecating remarks sparked outrage among Chinese Internet users, with many calling for the actor to stop making a living on the Chinese mainland.

"Don't say 'don't make money off the Chinese mainland' anymore. I'm telling you, stop me from coming to Chinese mainland if you can!" The 42-year-ole actor responded.

To's latest film "Let Go For Love" opened in theaters on April 30. Under the tense atmosphere and Internet users' haste towards To, the film grossed a mere million in ticket sales in the first two days.

On May 2, the official Weibo account for "Let Go For Love" expressed disappointment and resentment towards To's comments and said a "mistake was made in casting."

"We admit it was our mistake in using an inconsiderate actor. We gave all we had for this film and we have no regrets. We thank everyone for their suggestions on

Weibo. We accept the ticket office results and take responsibilities for our own choices."

On March 23, media company MaxTimes became the first Chinese mainland business to publically boycott To. Chen Lizhi, CEO of MaxTimes said on his official Sina Weibo account, "I will not use Chapman To in the films I invest in and produce. My company will never participate in any projects that To is part of."

As of today, there are more than 250,000 responses under the topic "Let's stop Chapman To from coming to the Chinese mainland" on Sina Weibo. User "-Memorial-G" said, "Now it's the time to pay for the price of your words."

User "Hewen312" said many authors from Hong Kong and Taiwan province also hold the same attitude, making a decent living through Chinese mainland publishers and calling them unprofessional at the same time. "As to verbally abuse each other, why not work hard to make ourselves better? Respect is earned!"

In a survey conducted by Xinhua, when asked whether one would boycott To's latest film, over 90% of 93,378 voters answered yes, 5.5% (5,679 votes) answered no, and 4.5% (4,655 votes) said they had no opinions.