Fan Bingbing makes first public appearance in months after mysteriously vanishing
Chinese superstar Fan Bingbing is returning to the spotlight after mysteriously disappearing from the public eye in the midst a tax fraud investigation.
The "X-Men: Days of Future Past" actress, 37, made her first red carpet appearance in nearly a year at the IQIYI Ninth Anniversary Gala in Beijing on Monday.
It marked the first event Fan attended since the 2018 Cannes Film Festival in May.
Fan shared several pictures of herself at the Gala on Instagram, showcasing her black pantsuit and matching pink blazer. It marks only her second Instagram post since going dark shortly in May 2018.
Fan Bingbing is still missing: Speculation mounts about the 'X-Men' actress' whereabouts
A post shared by Fan Bingbing 范冰冰 (@bingbing_fan) on Apr 22, 2019 at 9:53am PDT
Fan gained national attention after dropping completely off the radar in September, a shocking move for one of China's most famous faces and highest-paid entertainers.
Her vanishing act sparked speculation from fans who worried that the actress was either hiding from Chinese authorities or being held by those authorities amid the tax evasion fallout.
Where is Fan Bingbing? The Chinese star has mysteriously disappeared
In October, Chinese tax authorities ordered Fan to pay taxes and fines worth 900 million yuan, equivalent to more than $130 million, in order to avoid criminal prosecution.
"I am unworthy of the trust of the society and let down the fans who love me," Fan wrote in October on Weibo, a popular platform in China where she has more than 62 million followers.
She added that she accepts the tax authorities’ decision and would "try my best to overcome all difficulties and raise funds to pay back taxes and fines."
'X-Men' star Fan Bingbing resurfaces: Pledges to pay Chinese tax agency $130M in fines
A post shared by Fan Bingbing 范冰冰 (@bingbing_fan) on Feb 4, 2019 at 6:20am PST
Fan has been nearly absent ever since. She returned to Instagram in February to wish her followers a happy and healthy Chinese New Year, sharing several fresh faced selfies.
Contributing: The Associated Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fan Bingbing makes first public appearance in months after mysteriously vanishing
