Bride Wrapped in Tape on Wedding Day as a Prank... "Stop the Disgusting Custom"

China's 'Hunnao' Turns into Harassment
Bridal Sexual Assault Justified as "Wedding Custom"
"Do Not Enjoy Pain as Amusement," Criticism Mounts

At a wedding banquet in China, the groom's acquaintances wrapped the bride with tape and hung her on a utility pole. [Source=China Weibo]

Chinese men who tied a bride to a utility pole during a wedding reception have sparked controversy.

On the 5th, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that recently, at a Chinese wedding reception known as 'Hunnao' (混?), the groom's friends were criticized for their excessive behavior. According to the report, several men wrapped the bride tightly with tape and hung her on a utility pole in a bizarre act. The bride screamed and called for help from those around her, but no one intervened. Eventually, the groom came and took the bride away, bringing the situation to an end.

As the photos spread on social media, a man claiming to be a longtime friend of the groom explained, "It was a pre-agreed prank. Creating fun scenes at weddings is a custom in our region." He added, "There was no harm done, and the groom checked to ensure the bride was safe at the scene. I hope people do not misunderstand." However, as criticism intensified despite this explanation, he acknowledged, "I admit it was an excessive act," and offered an apology.

Meanwhile, a similar incident occurred on the 23rd of last month in northern Shanxi Province. At a wedding reception, the groom's friends wrapped the bride, dressed in traditional Chinese wedding attire, tightly with tape and hung her on a utility pole. Additionally, in February last year in Henan Province, a bride was sexually harassed by the groom's friends while being transported by car after the wedding. When these acts were defended under the pretext of "wedding customs," netizens poured out criticism.

Hunnao is a custom that originated in ancient times, disappeared after the Chinese Communist Party came to power, and was revived in the late 1970s. Originally, Hunnao involved jokes intended to relieve the tension of the bride and groom on their wedding day. However, recently it has degenerated into acts of tormenting the couple, with severity increasing. This has led to calls within China to "raise awareness about the problems of Hunnao."

Domestic and international netizens who learned of the news responded with comments such as, "Who will take responsibility if something serious happens to the bride?", "Abandon outdated customs that do not fit the modern era," and "It is truly disgusting to enjoy others' suffering as entertainment."