[Edaily Reporter Nam Soyeon ] The founder of an Italian luxury brand has been embroiled in allegations of inappropriate physical contact while taking a photo with a famous Chinese actress. Since the controversy erupted, the scandal has continued to spread as footage from past photo shoots with other actresses—including Korean actress Kim Yoo-jung—has resurfaced, showing similar behavior.

On the 2nd, a video showing founder Brunello Cucinelli taking a photo with Chinese actress Liu Tao at an event for the luxury brand “Brunello Cucinelli” held in Shanghai, China, on the 22nd of last month has been widely circulating on social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and online communities.
In the video, Cuccinelli is seen greeting Liu Tao and the press while grabbing her arm to guide her; as he directs her path, he appears to press his hand against the center of her chest.
Chinese netizens who saw this criticized Cuccinelli’s behavior, arguing that it went beyond the scope of physical contact typically permitted during a greeting or photo session.
Some netizens reacted with comments such as, “Isn’t this blatant sexual harassment?” and “You can tell just by looking at Liu Tao’s body language. It’s so sad.”
Chinese-language media outlets also reported on the controversy.
Taiwan’s TVBS and Hong Kong’s HK01, among others, reported that although Liu Tao repeatedly turned her body to the side and shrugged her shoulders in an apparent attempt to create distance, Cuccinelli continued the physical contact. They also noted that while Liu Tao maintained a smile throughout the photo session, her expression changed the moment she left the scene.
As the controversy grows, photos and videos of other actresses who attended similar brand events in the past are being revisited.
In particular, local media explained that similar allegations had been raised when Korean actress Kim Yoo-jung attended a Brunello Cucinelli event in Hong Kong.
Footage from that event shows Cuccinelli wrapping his arm around Kim Yoo-jung’s waist, lightly patting her with his hand, and then moving his hand downward in a sweeping motion. The video went viral in South Korea as well, sparking controversy over Cuccinelli’s inappropriate physical contact.
However, it is reported that Cuccinelli’s camp has not yet issued a separate official statement regarding this controversy.