In a very brief Weibo post on October 29, the public security bureau of Ningcheng County, Chifeng City in Inner Mongolia, announced that it had detained a Kuaishou live-streamer for 15 days after he disrespected the national anthem.
The post contained only a single picture of what appeared to be a blurred-out screenshot of the live-streamer, whose last name is Wang. According to the bureau’s statement, the offense—singing “March of the Volunteers” mockingly—occurred in November of last year, although police didn’t receive a tip until this past month.
Wang told police that he had done the stunt on purpose in order to attract fans. No further details were provided about his performance, live-streaming identity, or popularity.
The case comes only a week after the news that online celebrity “Lige” was held by police on similar charges. Yang Kaili’s live-streaming performance, in which she warbles the anthem while wearing a pair of reindeer antlers, only lasted a matter of seconds. However, both Huya and Douyin ended up blocking her from their platforms, and Yang said she would no longer live-stream afterwards. She has since released multiple public apologies for her actions.
Both Yang and Wang’s punishments are outlined in a law instated last year, which slaps those who mock or alter the lyrics of China’s national anthem with up to 15 days of detainment or three years of jail time. Luckily for them, neither live-streamer received more than 15 days.
However, Wang’s case does bring into question how such cases are judged. Based on the length of time it took for his offense to be reported, at least, he probably doesn’t command the audience that Yang Kaili once did. Yet Wang received a longer administrative detention, which might have been influenced by the nature of his singing or regional variations in law enforcement.
Either way, Wang’s live-streaming career, like Yang’s, is likely at an end.