A wife in China was ordered to publicly apologise for 15 days to her cheating husband after posting a sarcastic story about his infidelity online. -- Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Douyin
SHANGHAI (SCMP): A woman in central China was ordered to apologise to her cheating husband for posting a sarcastic story that damaged his reputation.
Niu Na, from Henan province, revealed on social media that she had been married to her husband, Gao Fei, for over 10 years, and they have a daughter together.
Niu discovered that Gao, a team leader at a local coal mining company, had been having an affair with a married colleague, surnamed Han, for five years. During this time, Gao used their joint assets to buy his mistress gold, cosmetics, and clothing.
The outraged Niu exposed the affair on Douyin, detailing Gao and Han’s workplaces and using harsh language to describe him. She also posted a sarcastic short story about her partner’s infidelity.
Soon after, Gao sued Niu for defamation. The court ruled that personal moral failings could not justify infringing on others’ rights.
Niu’s ironic apology videos quickly garnered millions of likes, and she rapidly gained over 350,000 followers on social media within a matter of days. -- Photo: DouyinNiu was sentenced to publicly apologise to Gao for 15 consecutive days, with the content of her apology video subject to court approval.
In China, defamation carries civil responsibility, which includes an apology, cessation of harmful actions, and compensation.
Since January 12, Niu has been posting daily apology videos to Gao on Douyin.
In one video, she says: “I was overwhelmed by anger and made the wrong decision to insult you. I am sorry.”
“You and your mistress are clearly in true love. Even with your serious moral flaws, your personal rights and reputation deserve respect.”
Niu shares details of the affair, including chat records and money transfers, as well as photos of Gao’s head injury after being beaten by his mistress’s husband.
She adds: “I shouldn’t have mocked you and called you ‘pig’. You were beaten to protect her. You are a good leader and lover.”
Riding the wave of her viral success, Niu started selling the clothes, hair clips, and cosmetics showcased in her videos. -- Photo: DouyinIn her fourth video, Niu shows her injuries from domestic violence, stating: “Your affair and violence have hurt me deeply, but that does not justify my wrong actions. Emotional issues should be handled legally.”
Niu’s ironic apology videos quickly gained millions of likes, and in just a few days, she amassed over 350,000 followers on social media.
Support flooded her comment section.
One user wrote: “You are a wise and brave woman, turning an apology into a public reckoning for the unfaithful partner.”
Another commented: “The court reviewed and approved your videos. I think that means you are at fault legally, but you win morally.”
Some even suggested she should display the videos on large screens in local shopping malls for everyone to see.
Following her viral success, Niu began selling the clothes, hair clips, and cosmetics featured in her videos.
She also shared her personal journey in live-streams, promoting the beauty of her hometown, each attracting over 10,000 viewers.
It is unclear if she and Gao are divorced, but they are currently living apart.
Niu revealed that after being betrayed, she fell ill. She expressed gratitude to her fans, saying: “Your support and love give me the strength to keep moving forward.”
An online observer remarked, “I genuinely hope Niu makes good use of this popularity to earn some money for herself and her daughter. Living better is the best revenge against a betrayer.”
