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Celebrity pay has become a source of contention in China again after a public figure complained that 650 yuan (S$135) was not enough for a day's worth of food.

The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that the comment was made by Su Mang, former editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar China and one of the most influential figures in Chinese fashion media.

In China, the average annual income is reportedly 32,189 yuan (S$6,692), which is 88 yuan (S$18.30) per day and meant to cover everything, including meals.

What happened

Su made the comment while on Tencent-produced variety show 50km Taohuawu, which debuted on Sunday, May 23.

On the show, 15 celebrities were invited to spend 21 days together, and the group were discussing how much each should pay for their daily meals.

When one of them joked that 650 yuan a day was good, Su responded that it was not enough.

“Don’t you drink milk and eat eggs in the morning?” she said. “We have to eat better, I cannot eat with such a low standard.”

This subsequently sparked widespread backlash and mockery online.

Backlash

According to SCMP, one Weibo user questioned the values Su was trying to promote.

The online commenter pointed out that the ordinary person eats only a little over 10 yuan (S$2) a day.

Another retorted saying it felt like it was a throwback to the feudal ages, where only "emperors eat royal delicacies", while the average person ate what they could to get by.

Tencent later declared on Weibo on Monday, May 24, that Su had never said 650 yuan wasn’t enough, but that she meant that the 650 yuan was for the 21 days she spent on the show.

Su also shared the post on her Weibo account and claimed that it was a misunderstanding.

Some Chinese media and netizens later shared on Weibo that a "minimum" budget of 1,000 to 2,000 yuan (S$207-S$415) for daily meals was standard for celebrities on the set, with some major celebrities even privy to budgets of up to 3,000 yuan (S$623).

Blatant displays of wealth frowned upon

China's TikTok banned thousands of users in February 2021 for showing off their wealth on the platform.

These sorts of disclosures to showcase one's ostentatious lifestyle is frowned upon by the Communist government as it highlights the vast inequalities in the country.

The blatant displays of wealth have also been framed as a moral issue by the government as it is said to promote inappropriate values such as heightened consumerism.

Top image via Getty Images and Weibo