An influencer in China with a staggering 46 million followers has been subjected to a 10-day administrative detention for poking a woman’s buttocks with a bamboo stick during a live-streaming event.
According to the police authority in Sanya, located in southern China’s Hainan island province, the individual, known by the surname Meng, was detained for this vulgar act involving a woman he had hired to enhance his online traffic.
The police stated on December 4, as reported by Hunan Daily, that the “harassment” scheme they orchestrated has had a detrimental impact on society.
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Meng, 28, is more widely recognised by his alias, Qi Tiandao, on the short video platform Kuaishou, where he has garnered 46 million followers. He is known for his “humorous-style” live-streaming, often conducted in outdoor settings across mainland China.
During a live-streaming session staged in Sanya at the end of November, Meng fixated on a woman dressed in a short skirt who was buying milk tea on the street, all while being broadcast live. It was later revealed that the woman had been hired by Meng to act as a passer-by, according to police.
Moments later, Meng picked up a short bamboo stick, squatted down, and stealthily approached the woman, using the stick to poke her backside.
Clearly disturbed, the woman turned to Meng and asked: “Why did you touch my bottom?”
In a cheeky response, Meng replied: “I’d like to remind you that half of your buttocks are revealed.”
It remains unclear what the woman’s reply was.
Following a wave of complaints from internet users, Kuaishou took action by suspending Meng’s account for 15 days due to his violation of the platform’s rules.
Local police have indicated that the case is still under investigation, and it is uncertain whether the woman involved faced any repercussions.
Meng previously served a three-year prison sentence for fraud in 2019. After his release, he embarked on a career as a blogger, but his videos often included vulgar content, particularly involving the harassment of women, according to reports.
It is estimated that the gross sales value of the goods – mainland-produced snacks – in his Kuaishou online shop reached an impressive 100 million yuan (US$14 million).
The incident has sparked widespread criticism of Meng from online observers in mainland China.
“His account should be banned forever,” one netizen lamented.
Another questioned: “I wonder who his followers are. What kind of people are they?”
A further comment read: “The popularity of this individual, who primarily produces sleazy content, indicates a decline in society’s moral standards.”
Meng is not alone in facing scrutiny for problematic content. Last month, three social media accounts from northwestern China’s Qinghai province were shut down by authorities, and their bloggers were reprimanded by police for creating vulgar, violent, or misleading videos.
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