A fitness influencer in China has had a “provocative” live stream shut down while cosplaying as Aquaman. - Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo/IMDb
BEIJING: A popular fitness influencer in China has made headlines after his recent live-stream was forcibly shut down for being “too provocative”.
The sanction came after he cosplayed as Aquaman, reigniting a public debate about platform policy and content moderation.
Liu Genghong, 52, who was born and raised in Taiwan, initially made his reputation as a singer, actor, and a former lyricist for the popular entertainer, Jay Chou.
In 2022, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Liu began live streaming fitness sessions and quickly gained a massive following with his unique approach.
He combined popular music with high-energy workouts that could be done at home without professional gym equipment.
On April 1, Liu, who has more than 60 million followers on social media, hosted a live streaming fitness session dressed as the DC superhero Aquaman which attracted more than 100,000 viewers.
However, it was abruptly cut off by the platform operator, which described it as “too provocative.”
Liu’s Aquaman costume featured a figure-hugging material wrapped tightly around a sensitive body part, making its movements particularly noticeable as he performed his high-energy fitness routine.
A representative of the social media platform later told Jiupai News that the live stream was red-flagged because Liu’s outfit was excessively tight and was perceived as “attracting attention through inappropriate clothing.”
Liu expressed frustration, and asked: “This is not my first day of live streaming. Is this going to be a repeat of the down jacket incident in 2022?”
He also posted photos of his live streaming outfits and asked: “What exactly is the standard for live streaming reviews?”
The down jacket incident Liu referred to was when he faced a similar accusation that his workout attire was too tight and overexposed his muscular chest.
The next day, Liu responded by wearing a heavy, oversized down jacket during his live streaming.
It attracted more than 1.5 million new followers in just one week, according to Newrank.cn.
Online influencers in China like Liu often dress up in outlandish outfits to attract viewers. - Photo: qq.com
Liu once attracted more than 44 million viewers for a single live-streaming session, and his followers on one popular platform once surpassed 70 million, making him a stand-out figure in the fitness influencer space.
The Aquaman incident has drawn a mixed reaction online.
One person said: “The platform is indeed biased. If Liu did wear something inappropriate and was suspended, why do they not ban the truly seductive female influencers?”
“Coach Liu has always focused on spreading positivity and promoting health through his live streams,” said another.
However, a third person criticised him: “If he is all about fitness, focus on the exercises, why does he need to add all these flashy costumes?” - South China Morning Post
