According to Hongxing News, businessman Justin Sun's lawsuit against Jing Tian, demanding 30 million yuan (nearly 4.5 million USD), has sparked millions of comments. Many called for the celebrity to "return the betrothal gifts if she doesn't marry," while others labeled her a "scammer" or "gold digger."

Hundreds of thousands of other opinions suggest that Justin Sun violated privacy and insulted his ex-girlfriend by publishing an essay titled "My Girlfriend, Jing Tian". The article detailed their relationship, publicly disclosing information about the actress's family, medical records, finances, and residence. Sun also claimed Jing Tian initially pursued surrogacy but abandoned the plan when he refused to pay her 50 million USD. However, at the end of the article, Sun noted: "The content is fictional."

On Tech Ifeng, he addressed the article's authenticity, stating, "Most of the content aligns with my thoughts. I noted 'fictional' because I cannot guarantee 100% accuracy of every detail. However, I wrote what I thought, including my concerns."

Businessman Justin Sun. *Photo: Orientaldaily*

The essay garnered tens of billions of views across social media platforms. Beijing-based lawyer Ho Vinh Binh questioned whether the article infringed upon another's honor. Details concerning their relationship, betrothal gifts, wedding plans, and childbirth are personal information protected by privacy rights. Both the images and text in the article clearly refer to Jing Tian. Even with Justin Sun's "fictional" disclaimer, in practice, such a statement often does not eliminate the risk of legal violation. When disputes over betrothal gifts arise, the proper resolution method is through court, not by unilaterally releasing private information under the guise of "protecting one's own rights."

Lawyer Luu Khai also stated that the phrase "the article is fictional" does not grant immunity from all legal responsibilities. In some cases, the likelihood of legal transgression is higher if the author fabricates or invents content that harms another's reputation.

If the article's content is true, the risk of defamation is lower; however, it could still constitute a violation of privacy rights and personal data protection laws.

Actress Jing Tian. *Photo: Weibo*

The second issue in this case is whether Jing Tian must return all betrothal gifts if the marriage does not proceed. On Sina, Justin Sun's lawyer stated that their sole intention is to demand Jing Tian and her parents return 30 million yuan.

Chinese law stipulates that the woman's family must return betrothal gifts to the man's family if an engagement is canceled. However, each case must be assessed individually; courts will not mechanically rule that "no marriage means all betrothal gifts must be returned."

Authorities will clarify various factors, including: the actual amount the man's family gave the woman's family, the duration the two parties lived together (even if unmarried), whether they have children, whether the woman was preparing for pregnancy, how the betrothal gifts were used, and the reason for the engagement's cancellation (who bore more responsibility for the breakup).

Therefore, returning betrothal gifts is not a simple "yes or no" decision but requires an assessment of each specific case. According to lawyer Luu Khai, while the man's family has the right to request the return of gifts, this does not mean they will recover the full amount given.

The third issue is whether Jing Tian faces accusations of "marriage fraud." According to lawyer Luu Khai, a dispute over betrothal gifts does not equate to a crime. Fraudulent behavior occurs when the woman's family fabricates information or conceals facts to achieve financial gain, which would constitute a criminal case.

However, if two parties fall in love and intend to marry, but their relationship sours, leading to a betrothal gift dispute, it cannot be concluded that the woman committed "marriage fraud."

According to Ifeng, Justin Sun becoming the center of attention by suing his ex-girlfriend is not surprising to those familiar with him. Sun, born in 1990 in China, currently holds Grenadian citizenship. The entrepreneur founded the Tron blockchain platform and possesses assets worth 8.5 billion USD. He serves as an ambassador and former permanent representative of Grenada to the World Trade Organization, as well as an advisor to the HTX cryptocurrency exchange.

Media outlets note that for over 10 years, Sun has been "one of the most talked-about entrepreneurs on Chinese social media." In 2019, he won a charity auction to have lunch with billionaire Warren Buffet for 4.57 million USD. However, Justin Sun later canceled the lunch "due to health reasons."

In 2024, Justin Sun gained global social media attention by spending 6.2 million USD to purchase a banana taped to a wall—an "artwork" by artist Maurizio Cattelan. The entrepreneur subsequently ate the banana.

"From million-dollar lunches to million-dollar bananas, from cryptocurrency to technology, finance, and entertainment events, Justin Sun appears to grasp the value of attention," commented Ifeng's technology section.

"Therefore, when Justin Sun actively brought his ex-girlfriend, personal relationship, and betrothal gift lawsuit public on social media, an undeniable question arises: Is this ultimately an expression of a person's emotions after a relationship ends, or a form of attention-seeking in Justin Sun's characteristic style?"

Jing Tian celebrated her 38th birthday in Phu Quoc in July. *Video: Weibo*

For her part, Jing Tian has remained reserved regarding her ex-boyfriend's actions. On her personal page, the actress wrote that she would never "sell out love" for money. The celebrity admitted to having poor judgment in choosing partners. Jing Tian's management company representatives did not respond to Justin Sun's essay, stating they would address the matter through legal channels.

Nhu Anh