Chinese actress Liu Xiaoqing sparks debate after calling lifelong loyalty in love ‘pitiful’
Liu, 76, made the remarks during an appearance on the talk show “A Date With Luyu” on May 11, where she discussed her views on love and marriage, Sin Chew Daily reported.
When asked whether she believed in eternal love, the actress, who has been married three times, said: “To love one person from beginning to end is probably not easy. I have friends like that, but I actually find them quite pitiful. Why should there be only one person?”
She said maintaining a lifelong relationship is difficult to achieve and not necessarily something worth pursuing.
Host Chen Luyu laughed and asked: “If two people are truly compatible, staying together for life could still be a beautiful form of love, right?”
But Liu disagreed: “No, over time, romantic love fades and is replaced by habit, with the relationship eventually becoming familial affection.”
Chen Luyu (left) and Liu Xiaoqing. Photo from Weibo |
Liu Xiaoqing on Chen Luyu’s show. Video from Weibo
Chen then argued that, as long as both partners remain faithful and do not betray each other, a relationship is still worth cherishing even if romantic love turns into familial affection.
Liu said she places greater importance on personal feelings.
“I think marriage is when two good friends willingly choose to stay together in an exclusive relationship. However, from the perspective of an individual’s life journey, it can be somewhat monotonous.”
She also disagreed with treating “one person for life” as the only standard for love, saying that such an idea can bring suffering.
She said women should avoid exhausting themselves emotionally because of conventional social expectations.
She had deliberately chosen not to have children, she said: “A child has their own life. They do not belong to you. As for my life, it has to be like a kaleidoscope. First of all, I have to live well for myself.
“Everything I have lost came at a price, but everything I have gained is priceless. Today, I am clear-minded, happy, healthy, and able to distinguish right from wrong.”
Her statements sparked a major public backlash. A hashtag trended on social media, attracting widespread criticism. Many users on SinChew Daily and Weibo said her views were “too negative about love” and “too extreme.” Others defended her, saying she was simply speaking from life experience.
A social media user named “Cat in Plaid” wrote: “In life, everyone should think independently and be tolerant of other people’s opinions and views.”
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Actress Liu Xiaoqing. Photo from Weibo |
Liu is regarded as a prominent figure in Chinese cinema, with notable roles in productions such as “Wu Zetian,” “Hibiscus Town” and “A Dream of Red Mansions.”
At the height of her career in 2002, Liu was investigated for business law violations and tax evasion, serving 442 days in prison. Despite the setback, she gradually rebuilt her career and has remained active in the entertainment industry, continuing to take on new projects and make public appearances.
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