BEIJING (SCMP): A man in China became the target of ridicule on mainland social media after spending over 4 million yuan (US$550,000) on tipping a live-streaming anchor, all in a desperate attempt to hear her call him “brother”.
He resorted to eating plain steamed buns to survive amid his financial ruin.
The man, whose surname is Hong, hails from Ningbo in Zhejiang province in southeastern China.
Earlier this year, he developed an obsession with online live-streaming and began funnelling money into supporting a particular female anchor, whose identity remains undisclosed.
Initially, he drained his family’s savings, prompting them to restrict his access to funds.
Undeterred, Hong continued to exploit his position to finance his addiction.
Working in the hardware trade, he started stealing copper materials during deliveries for his family business.
Beginning in May, he routinely pilfered copper during these deliveries and sold it to waste recycling stations for cash. This continued until Oct 15, when the factory reported a significant quantity of missing copper to the Hengjie police station, suspecting theft.
Following a police investigation, Hong, accompanied by his family, turned himself in.
At first, he confessed to only two recent thefts, denying any further involvement.
However, when confronted with evidence from his financial transactions, which revealed unexplained income and substantial expenditures on the live-streaming platform, Hong ultimately confessed.
He admitted to committing over 40 thefts since May, amassing about 2.3 million yuan (US$316,000), all of which he spent on tipping the live-streaming host to elevate her rankings.
Explaining his motives, Hong stated: “I didn’t want to meet her; I just wanted to hear her call me ‘brother’.”
He also revealed that his obsession forced him to rely on plain steamed buns to stave off hunger and sustain himself.
Hong was eventually arrested on suspicion of theft, and so far, over 1 million yuan has been recovered and returned to the factory.
In China, the fascination with key opinion leaders (KOLs) has become a significant source of income, allowing them to earn a living through tips and virtual gifts.
According to iResearch, the market size for virtual gift donations during live-streams in China reached 140 billion yuan (US$19 billion) in 2019 and is projected to grow to 417 billion yuan (US$57 billion) by next year.
Hong’s actions, reported by Jiupai News, have shocked many on Chinese social media.
One user joked: “What kind of copper is worth over 2 million yuan? This really blows my mind!”
Another added: “If you just want to hear it, why not record it and play it on repeat?”
A third remarked: “Four million yuan for a single word, ‘Brother’? Maybe he should see a psychiatrist.” - South China Morning Post
