China Cracks Down on “CEO Romance” Dramas as They Glorify Marrying into Wealthy Families

A billionaire, or a Chief Executive Officer (CEO), falls in love with a poor woman, who realises that love has always been around. Sounds too cliche for a drama? This plot may soon come to an end in China.

Thanks to new guidelines issued by Chinese authorities, the production of micro dramas focusing on “CEO romance” will soon be restricted, and there is a clear rationale behind this new regulation.

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It is a wake-up call to the creators to avoid promoting fantasies that idealise marriage into wealth or powerful families.

The Chinese authorities also cautioned against deliberately crafting sensational content by flaunting riches or displays of power. The guidelines, reportedly released by the National Radio and Television Administration, emphasise that short-form dramas depicting entrepreneurs should be grounded in realism.

Don’t turn something unrealistic into reality; raise production standards.

Additionally, creators are urged not to disguise absurd storylines as realistic portrayals or to justify exaggerated, bizarre plots as artistic expression. Such practices will not only risk misleading the public about Chinese entrepreneurs but also damage the image of the entrepreneurial community.

The guidelines stress that short-form dramas should not deliberately chase popularity by promoting materialism or by flaunting wealth, power, or hedonistic lifestyles.

Ai-generated image for illustration purposes only

The guidelines urged creators to focus on stories of Chinese entrepreneurs from both historical and modern contexts, instead of centring plots on romantic relationships or family conflicts. They specifically warn against promoting ideas that encourage marrying into powerful or wealthy families.

They also state that oversight of CEO romance micro-dramas should be tightened, with steps such as capping production volume, raising production standards, and avoiding attention-grabbing titles like “domineering CEO.”

Do you think it’s time for Malaysian production to follow suit?

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