Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi has denied she was paid more than $100 million to sleep with several powerful Chinese men.
The star of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and Memoirs of a Geisha had sex with disgraced politician Bo Xilai - a Chongqing party chief being investigated for corruption - more than ten times between 2007 and last year, a report on the US-based Chinese news website Boxun.com claimed.
The 33-year-old was allegedly paid about $1.59 million by Mr Bo on each occasion.
Ziyi was allegedly introduced to Mr Bo by Xu Ming, a Chinese businessman who is also being investigated for corruption, who himself allegedly paid $100,000 to sleep with the actress the first time and $28.7 million in total.
The claims made by Boxun.com, which were also published by the Chinese language media in China and Taiwan, allege Ziyi made millions more from similar deals with other rich and powerful figures.
She is claimed to have escaped paying tax on the supposed illicit income because of interventions made by Mr Xu and other senior officials.
Ziyi's publicist Chinese has issued a denial on the actress' behalf, describing the claims as ‘outrageous’.
"It sent stone-cold chills down our spines and has left us with a feeling of deep sadness," the publicist said.
"Why should this devoted and responsible actress have to suffer this kind of slander and defamation?"
