Taiwan-born celebrity couple, Lin Rui-yang (right) and Chang Ting (left). Photo: IC photo.

The Taiwan-born celebrity couple, Lin Rui-yang and Chang Ting, was banned from posting on Sina Weibo, China's Twitter-like social media platform, after their company was put under investigation for a suspected pyramid scheme. Chang Ting was also prohibited from posting on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, until January 16.

Their company, Shanghai Dowell Trading Group (Dowell), is under investigation on suspicion of facilitating a pyramid scheme. The company mainly operates TIN'Secret, a cosmetic brand founded by Lin Rui-yang and his wife Chang Ting. 

Douyin will temporarily ban Chang Ting's account from Sunday to January 16 for "not complying with the community rules." The couple's personal Weibo accounts, as well as the Weibo account of TIN'Secret, were also banned from posting due to "breaking of related rules and regulations."

The last post on the couple's Weibo accounts was a repost of a statement from TIN'Secret on Wednesday, which insisted the company operates legally and that it welcomes the supervision of the local market regulatory administration. 

Lin and Chang gained their fame through their roles in popular TV dramas back in the 1990s and 2000s. 

Lin Rui-yang's case is a purely commercial matter and has nothing to do with relations across the Taiwan Straits, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council emphasized on Wednesday.

The market regulatory authority of Yuhua district in Shijiazhuang, capital of North China's Hebei Province, said in late December that it has been investigating Dowell since June 5, 2021 after getting public reports. The authority has applied to the court for preservation measure given that Dowell has transferred and concealed the pyramid scheme funds through financial institutions.



Global Times