China 'livestream queen' accounts disappear after record fine

Boasting over 110 million followers on social media, Viya reportedly sold products worth a total of 8.5 billion yuan (US$1.3bil/RM5.4bil) in just one evening during China's recent Singles' Day shopping festival. — AFP

BEIJING: The social media accounts of an influencer known as China's 'livestreaming queen' disappeared on Tuesday, after she was ordered to pay a record US$200mil (RM841mil) fine for tax evasion.

Huang Wei, known by her username Viya, is one of China's most prominent livestreamers in an e-commerce sector that has accelerated its rapid growth despite the coronavirus pandemic that took hold last year.