Exploiting Quỳnh Dao’s death to “gain fame”, a prominent figure causes public outrage and calls for boycott on social media

On December 4th, Sina reported that renowned actress Quỳnh Dao has passed away at the age of 86. Many of her collaborators and fans expressed their condolences, sharing heartfelt messages in honor of the celebrated writer. Famous screenwriter Uông Hải Lâm also contributed a commemorative piece that sparked some controversy.

In his article, Uông Hải Lâm referenced a legal dispute between Quỳnh Dao and Vu Chính in 2014. At that time, Quỳnh Dao had filed a lawsuit against Vu Chính due to suspicions that this screenwriter had appropriated many intricate details from her work, Mai Hoa Lạc, which was later adapted into the film Cung Tá»a Liên Thành.

Throughout the process, screenwriter Uông Hải Lâm was frequently criticized for his biased opinions, particularly in his interactions with various Chinese media regulation bodies, such as the Film and Literature Creation Committee and the Chinese Film Association.

Ultimately, after an 8-month battle, the court ruled in favor of Quỳnh Dao, ordering that the film screening of Vu Chính’s work be halted. Vu Chính was also required to compensate Quỳnh Dao with a sum of 17.2 million dong and to publicly apologize within 10 days. However, it wasn’t until six years later that Vu Chính officially issued an apology to Quỳnh Dao, explaining that it was due to a “lack of understanding” rather than a desire to infringe upon her rights.

Uông Hải Lâm has consistently published articles that criticize Vu Chính. In his recent post, he even stated that Vu Chính has faced over 100 critical reviews.

According to Sina, Uông Hải Lâm’s previous remarks about Quỳnh Dao’s work were seen as provocative. In his new article, the screenwriter criticized the character dynamics in Cùng Ngắm MÆ°a Sao Băng, claiming the portrayal was superficial and often aimed at sensationalism, merely to satisfy his own understanding.

This is not the first time Uông Hải Lâm has addressed Vu Chính in his writings. In December 2020, he also published an article titled “7 Tips for Young People to Navigate Quỳnh Dao’s Works.” The seven pieces of advice included: respect women, appreciate beauty, avoid toxic relationships, and maintain dignified behavior.

Uông Hải Lâm is known for his sharp critiques of the film industry, often expressing disdain for various genres and their practitioners. He has previously described screenwriter Trần Tình Lệnh as “trash” and criticized Lá»™c Hàm for his portrayal of masculinity.

In November 2018, Uông Hải Lâm sparked further discussion with an article entitled “Ngô Diệc Phàm Must Clean Up His Act: The Collapse of an Idol’s Image.” In this piece, he detailed the challenges faced by celebrities in maintaining their public personas.

Uông Hải Lâm has been described as a controversial figure in the Chinese film industry. Besides contributing scripts to many films such as Bản LÄ©nh Kỳ Hiệu Lam, Lữ Bố Vận Äá» Thuyá»n, Cùng Ngắm MÆ°a Sao Băng, Äá»™ng Từ Äài (LÆ°u Diệc Phi, Châu Nhuận Phát), Hán Sở Tranh Hùng (Tần Lam, Hà Nhuận Äông), he also holds significant positions such as Deputy Secretary at the Chinese Film and Literature Association and a member of the Film and Literature Creation Committee.