BEIJING – Italian luxury label Prada has ended all cooperation with Chinese actress Zheng Shuang, a week after appointing her as a brand ambassador, after she was engulfed in a surrogacy controversy that has enthralled the Chinese public.

The fashion house made the announcement late on Tuesday, after coming under heavy criticism on Chinese social media for cooperating with 30-year-old Zheng, whose ex-boyfriend Zhang Heng has accused her of trying to abandon two young children the couple had through a US-based surrogate.