Chinese Actresss Zhang Ziyi Denies Being Paid Millions To Sleep With Rich Businessmen

Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi, famous for her role in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, is being investigated over prostitution claims after a handful of reports claiming that she's been paid millions of dollars to sleep with wealthy Chinese businessmen, including former Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai and his associate Xu Ming.

According to a handful of gossip reports in China, Zhang slept with Xilai for 10 million Yuan (approximately $1.5 million USD), and they had at least 10 encounters in between 2004 to 2007. Zhang was reportedly introduced to other officials through Ming, and she's reportedly been paid $110 million over the years, according to Yahoo! Singapore and several other websites.

Zhang is currently shooting The Grandmasters in China, and the report claims the starlet has been barred from leaving the country while the investigations continue. Ziyi was noticeably absent from the Cannes Film Festival, where her upcoming movie Dangerous Liaisons was an official selection, but her rep insists the stories are completely bogus.

Ziyi's rep said in a statement:

"We read this outrageous report in the Hong Kong's Apple Daily. It sent stone-cold chills down our spines and has left us with a feeling of deep sadness. During the last month, Zhang Ziyi has been busy working day and night on the set of 'The Grandmasters.' Why should this devoted and responsible actress have to suffer this kind of slander and defamation? Friends have advised us to release a short statement and not take this seriously. The more you argue, the more you will stir up. It would be better to step aside until people lose interest and the lies disappear. The innocent will always be innocent.

But this time we don't want to be silent. If we leave these lies to spread, what is completely untrue will be at risk of becoming a half-truth. This time, we are telling those rumor-makers that we will respond. We will prove our side of the story; we'll seek legal justice; we'll find you in the darkest corner and go after you.

We will seek justice for Zhang Ziyi by taking legal action against Apple Daily and against any other media publishing these false reports."

We photographed the 33-year-old starlet back in 2009 vacationing with then-boyfriend Aviv "Vivi" Nevo in St. Barth, and while we doubt there's any truth to these claims, she certainly seems to be quite open about her sexuality! Not only did the starlet tan topless and remove most of her bikini bottom while tanning, but Nevo couldn't seem to keep his hands -- or his mouth -- off of her!