Sued for Defamation, Complies with Court Order
Gains Online Popularity and Prepares for Independence
A woman in China who spread news of her husband's affair on social networking services (SNS) and was ordered by the court to apologize has gained popularity with her 'apology video.'
A woman in China who spread news of her husband's affair on social networking services (SNS) and was ordered by the court to apologize has gained popularity with her 'apology video.' Douyin screenshot
On January 25, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that Ms. Niu, a resident of Henan Province, China, recently became a sensation after posting a video apologizing to her husband on SNS as ordered by the court.
The incident began when Ms. Niu discovered her husband's infidelity. Ms. Niu and her husband, Mr. Gao, had been married for over 10 years. However, Ms. Niu found out that Mr. Gao had been having an inappropriate relationship with a married coworker for five years and had used their joint assets to buy gifts for his mistress. Enraged by this discovery, Ms. Niu revealed her husband's personal information and details of his affair on SNS, using harsh language. Mr. Gao filed a defamation lawsuit against Ms. Niu.
The local court stated, "An individual's moral failing cannot be a justifiable reason to infringe upon another's rights," and ordered Ms. Niu to upload an apology video every day for 15 days. However, Ms. Niu turned this situation to her advantage. While complying with the court order and posting apology videos, she included detailed accounts of the affair, effectively creating satirical videos.
A woman in China who spread news of her husband's affair on social networking services (SNS) and was ordered by the court to apologize has gained popularity with her 'apology video.' Douyin screenshot
In the videos, Ms. Niu said, "I apologize for insulting you in a fit of anger," but sarcastically added, "You and your mistress seem to share true love. Even if you have moral failings, your human rights and reputation deserve to be respected." During the apology, Ms. Niu also showed a photo of Mr. Gao injured after being assaulted by the mistress's husband, saying, "I shouldn't have called you a 'pig' and mocked you. To be beaten while protecting her makes you a true leader and lover." She then revealed photos of her own injuries from domestic violence, stating, "Your affair and violence have deeply hurt me, but that does not justify my wrongful actions," and emphasized, "Emotional issues should be resolved legally."
The videos attracted explosive attention on local SNS, gaining over 350,000 followers in just a few days.
Viewers of Ms. Niu's videos commented with support, saying, "Ms. Niu may have lost legally, but she won a complete moral victory," "A wise woman who turned a public apology into a public execution," "Ms. Niu's videos should be shown on giant shopping mall screens," and "The best revenge against a betrayer is to live better yourself."
Currently, Ms. Niu is reportedly preparing to become independent by leveraging her newfound popularity to launch a live commerce business, selling clothing and cosmetics through real-time broadcasts.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
