The public is not happy with her decision.
A widely popular actress is currently facing criticism from domestic fans for skipping an award show, allegedly because she did not win the Best Actress award.
The actress in question is Liu Yifei, one of the top actresses in China.
According to the Chinese media outlet QQ, Liu Yifei was absent from the 2025 Magnolia Awards ceremony after learning that she had not won the Best Actress award. Even though Liu received high praise from domestic and international audiences alike for her portrayal of Huang Yimei in The Tale of Rose, she ultimately lost the award to another industry bigwig, Tong Yao.
The Best Actress nomination at the Magnolia Awards marked the first-ever major television award in Liu’s 20-year career, making the stakes considerably high. According to industry insiders, losing the coveted title had such a profound effect on the actress that she not only skipped the event but also cancelled her attendance at a luxury brand launch in Shanghai scheduled on the same evening.
Liu Yifei’s absence has become controversial with netizens comparing her reaction to Tong Yao’s win to all other nominated actresses who were present at the venue and were seen celebrating the outcome. Many claimed that her attitude showed a lack of sportsmanship and grace.
A member of the Magnolia Awards organizing committee added further fuel to the fire by passively criticizing Liu for not respecting the “rules.”
Given that Liu is an American national, she is ineligible for China’s other major TV awards, including the Flying Apsaras Awards and the China TV Golden Eagle Awards. The Magnolia Awards are currently the only major platform where she stands the chance to receive domestic recognition. Fans are apprehensive that this year’s absence might affect the future chances of her being nominated again.
