Former NBA star Yi Jianlian accused of soliciting transgender prostitute after leaked nude photos go viral

Former NBA star Yi Jianlian has been in the hot seat after he was said to have hired a transgender prostitute in China.

Leaked photos purportedly showing a naked Jianlian, 36, and an ID card showing a man with a striking resemblance to the retired Chinese basketball star were widely circulated online last week.

According to screenshots of text conversations exposing a transaction between the coupleJianlian had paid the woman US$1,500 (S$1,967) for her sexual services at a hotel in China.

However, some have questioned the authenticity of the photos.

Netizens began searching for the identity of the woman in the images and believe she is a 19-year-old transgender influencer named Li Jinjin, also known as “Beijing Sister Qiao.”

However, Sister Qiao quickly came forward to clarify that the text messages were fabricated and that she is not the woman in the scandal.

He added that he would take legal action to protect their rights and urged everyone to stop spreading false information.

Despite this, a netizen posted on Xiao Hong Shu over the weekend, claiming to have spotted the “female protagonist of the scandal Yi Jianlian” in the Beijing airport lounge.

According to the post, Sister Qiao appeared to be emotionally distressed, often making phone calls and crying.

She allegedly said that she had only run into Jianlian and would never have exposed herself.

Sister Qiao also mentioned that her WeChat and Xiao Hong Shu accounts had been suspended and she was seen calling a bank to cancel her cards.

When the netizen was boarding her flight, she saw Sister Qiao again, this time with several police officers, but she had no idea where they were going.

“This is the closest I’ve ever gotten to such cool gossip,” commented the netizen.

He also claimed to have heard Sister Qiao mention in a phone call that she wanted to flee to the UK, but as she was at the domestic terminal, it seemed unlikely that she would leave that day.

Jianlian, who is married to model Jing Ling and has two sons aged 10 and eight, is one of China’s most famous basketball players.

Since the scandal broke, many brands have distanced themselves from Jianlian.

According to Jiemian News, brands such as China Life Insurance, Oppo and Hyptec have removed all marketing materials featuring Jianlian on their official Weibo accounts.

In addition to playing in the Chinese Basketball Association, Jianlian also played in the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks, New Jersey Nets, Washington Wizards, Dallas Mavericks and LA Lakers.

He last played for the Guangdong Southern Tigers before retiring in August 2023.

Photos: Yi Jianlian/Weibo, Xiao Hong Shu