HONG KONG — A prime-time drama on Hong Kong’s TVB network has ignited widespread online debate after airing a scene featuring full-frontal nudity during the 8:30 p.m. family viewing slot, drawing sharp criticism from viewers and celebrity commentators alike.
The fourth episode of “Radiant City,” the network’s anniversary series, aired Tuesday night and showed actress Aimee Chan, playing journalist Huo Peihua, disrobing completely in a bid to demonstrate unwavering loyalty to a character portrayed by Julian Cheung. The scene, which included the male lead photographing the naked actress from behind and parting her legs, has been described as one of the most explicit sequences ever broadcast on Hong Kong free-to-air television.
Chan, 31, said she spent nine months undergoing intensive physical training—building muscle while reducing body fat—to prepare for what she acknowledged was the most daring role of her career.
The scene immediately triggered a flood of online reactions, with many parents expressing discomfort over its timing.
“This is the 8:30 p.m. slot when families are eating dinner together—men, women, and children. It’s extremely awkward,” one netizen wrote. Another questioned: “Is this really appropriate when kids might be watching? The content is too explicit for this hour.”
Some critics suggested TVB should follow the model used by rival network ViuTV, which sometimes offers edited broadcast versions alongside extended online cuts.
However, other viewers defended the sequence, praising Chan’s physique and arguing that similar content is common on international streaming platforms. “American dramas do this all the time. On Netflix, this is nothing,” one commenter wrote, while another added: “It’s healthy to see some dramatic breakthroughs rather than the same old formula.”
The controversy escalated Wednesday when veteran actresses Elizabeth Lee and Louisa Lau devoted segments of their online talk show to condemning the broadcast.
Lau, 55, questioned the network’s judgment, noting that children are highly likely to be watching during the 8:30–9:30 p.m. window. “The content is so inappropriate—will it affect young viewers? The communications authority will likely receive many complaints because this is family time, not midnight,” she said. She also criticized the plot logic, arguing that a clever woman would not use her body as leverage to gain trust, and warned that television’s influence could instill harmful values in teenagers.
Lee, 55, acknowledged respecting Chan’s dedication to her nine-month fitness regimen, calling it a sign of professionalism and responsibility toward her craft. But she described the overall scene as “gratuitous, tasteless, and cheap,” accusing producers of forcing nudity into the storyline without reasonable justification.
Both women also attacked the production values, with Lee criticizing the camera work—particularly the close-up shots—and what she called generic background music that lacked emotional depth. Lau pointed to a moment when Cheung’s character pushes the actress’s knees apart, questioning how such imagery passed broadcast standards.
Lee concluded that the sequence appeared designed purely to attract attention rather than serve the story, adding that the crude execution wasted Chan’s physical preparation. She argued the plot could have been conveyed without such explicit imagery.
As of Wednesday, TVB had not issued a formal response to the criticism. The Communications Authority, which regulates broadcast content in Hong Kong, has yet to announce whether it received formal complaints about the episode.
The incident reignites ongoing debates in Hong Kong about broadcast standards, the boundaries of artistic expression, and the responsibilities of free-to-air networks that reach millions of households—including children—during peak evening hours.
