Chinese influencer banned from social media after faking harassment video

An influencer in Hunan, China was detained and banned from a social media platform after posting a video in which she faked being harassed on the platform. Photo illustration by Pixabay

The influencer, surnamed Shen, 24, posted a video featuring herself, her friend, and a man on her account on a short video platform, of which identity has not been revealed, according to the South China Morning Post.

She claimed the man was a stranger who randomly approached her and her friend at a local restaurant, trying to start a conversation with them.

The man in the video can be seen asking rude things like offering the two girls to drink even when they said they had a cold, asking for their contact information, and saying that Shen’s boyfriend was not as good as him after being refused.

Shen’s video instantly went viral in China, supported by those who have had similar experiences.

Things took a turn when local authorities found out that the whole video was staged, which Shen did to "keep up with the trends, attract traffic, and ultimately make profits." She was then reported to the police.

Consequently, Shen and three other suspects were detained by the police. The influencer’s account on the video platform was also suspended.