Matt Bossons is the host of China Untold, a podcast dedicated to sharing lesser-known stories from the world’s most populous nation. Matt is the guest on Season 2 Episode 11 of Date Night China Podcast, where we discuss these sex scandals in China.
Alec Baldwin once allegedly stated that sex is like a Chinese dinner - it ain’t over until you both get your cookie. Now, most meals in China are not capped off with a cookie, unless perhaps you are visiting a Subway sandwich shop, but Al is correct that both sex and a hearty Chinese meal are incredibly rewarding. So rewarding in fact, that some folks go to seemingly bizarre lengths to get off.
In Episode 11 of Date Night China, we recap some of the most outrageous sex scandals to hit China over the past half-decade, starting with the most famous: The Uniqlo sex tape that broke the internet.
Now, for a bit of background: porn is entirely illegal in China, be it the production of porn or simple possession of pornographic material. In the early 2000s, the Chinese government cracked down on online pornography, reportedly shutting down hundreds of websites that hosted material deemed indecent. In 2004, a Chinese woman named Wang Yanli was jailed for four years for running an online strip show. Two years later, the Chinese founder of pornographic website Erotica Juneday was sentenced to life behind bars.
Despite the potential for harsh punishment, some braze exhibitionists have chosen to create their own amateur pornographic videos for personal and public enjoyment.
Here are 3 sex scandals that set the Chinese internet on fire.
Hear more China sex scandals discussed on Season 2 Episode 11 of Date Night China Podcast. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or other major podcast apps.
1. UNIQLO Sex Tape
The Uniqlo sex tape was unquestionably the most talked about Chinese social media story in 2015, receiving international media attention by the likes of BBC, Vice, the Guardian, Wall Street Journal and South China Morning Post.
The 1-minute and 10-second porn video made its way online in July of 2015 and featured a Chinese man and women bumping uglies in a Uniqlo changing room in Beijing’s popular Sanlitun shopping and dining area. While the man in the video is largely clothed, the young woman is completely naked; that – along with the obvious penetration – rendered the video very much illegal in China. The fact it was filmed in a public place added insult to injury.
Once released, the graphic clip spread quickly on Chinese social media platforms Weibo and WeChat. This attention led authorities to act quickly, and within hours of the video’s release online, the couple in the footage were reportedly arrested.
It's become popular for people to take photos outside the UNIQLO in Sanlitun where this scandal happened.
2. IKEA Sex Video Blow Out
In 2019, an amateur pornographic video featuring a young woman masturbating in a Chinese IKEA went viral in early May, forcing the Swedish home decor company to issue a statement on May 9.
The graphic footage shows a half-naked Chinese woman masturbating on furniture throughout the furniture warehouse’s showroom as seemingly oblivious customers – including children – wander around in the background. The porno was quickly scrubbed from Chinese social media, although it can still be found on Western pornographic websites, such as Pornhub.
In its statement, IKEA China firmly condemned the video and the sexual acts that took place on its premises, and stated that they have notified police of the incident.
The response was posted on the company’s official Weibo page and reads: 「IKEA calls on consumers to visit IKEA in a civilized and orderly manner and jointly maintain a good shopping environment.」
3. The Infamous Eel Porn
In March 2017, a disturbing porn video emerged online that literally set the Chinese internet on fire.
The shocking footage showed a woman inserting a live eel into her body and quickly became one of the most talked about trending topics on Weibo. The video shows the lower half of a naked woman who is lying on a bed. She then proceeds to put a condom over an eel’s head and upper body, before inserting it into her you-know-where.
The graphic livestream was quickly scrubbed fromthe Chinese interwebs, although discussion of the video remained largely uncensored with media outlets reporting on it and a torrent of eel-related memes flooding the Chinese internet.
It’s not entirely clear what happened to the woman and eel in the video, but I theorize that one of the two likely did some jail time. In 2019, reports emerged that a Chinese woman with nickname QiQi had been sentenced to a year and nine months behind bars for livestreaming sex with an eel in 2017. Earlier reports, which surfaced in June of 2017, also noted that the vlogger had to undergo surgery as a result of the animal sex act.
Thanks to Matt Bossons from China Untold for compiling these stories.
Download or stream the first episode of China Untold on SoundCloud (VPN needed) or at chinauntoldpodcast.com. The episode is also available on iTunes and other popular podcast directories.
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Date Night China is a digital media platform and events organization based in Beijing that aims to build a positive community and share stories about relationships and dating in China. Follow our Wechat Account for the latest articles, new podcast episodes, and upcoming events.