Brad Pitt going to China is noteworthy only because he has been "banned" from the country after appearing in the film, Seven Years in Tibet, which involved a negative portrayal of the Chinese government and its soldiers. Pitt’s short announcement on Sina Weibo on Monday said simply, "It is the truth. Yup, I’m coming…". That was enough to get him about 100,000 Chinese followers in a few hours on a platform that boasts about 400 million active users.
Most see this development as the first step in what is likely to be a sustained advertising campaign in China for Chanel No. 5. Pitt has been starring in commercials for the perfume in other parts of the world and China is one of the fastest growing markets for luxury items. How Pitt will be received by the general public in China remains to be seen, but judging from the initial response online, it would seem that he’s got at least as much clout as any other Hollywood A-Lister, regardless of his former "banned" status.
Some Internet commenters have wondered aloud whether Pitt and Angelina Jolie may be considering adopting a Chinese child while they visit the country, but it would appear that this is much more likely to be strictly a business trip for Pitt. Should the couple take the plunge, however, and adopt another child, it would be their seventh. So there is some symmetry there if they choose to go down that road.
Most see this development as the first step in what is likely to be a sustained advertising campaign in China for Chanel No. 5. Pitt has been starring in commercials for the perfume in other parts of the world and China is one of the fastest growing markets for luxury items. How Pitt will be received by the general public in China remains to be seen, but judging from the initial response online, it would seem that he’s got at least as much clout as any other Hollywood A-Lister, regardless of his former "banned" status.
Some Internet commenters have wondered aloud whether Pitt and Angelina Jolie may be considering adopting a Chinese child while they visit the country, but it would appear that this is much more likely to be strictly a business trip for Pitt. Should the couple take the plunge, however, and adopt another child, it would be their seventh. So there is some symmetry there if they choose to go down that road.
