"A Woman in China Publicly Apologizes on SNS, Saying 'My Husband and His Mistress Are Truly in Love'"

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, who lives in Henan Province, China, has recently drawn attention for posting an apology video to her husband on SNS in accordance with a court order.

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 learned that Mr. Gao had maintained an inappropriate relationship with a married colleague at work for five years, and that he had used their joint assets to give gifts and money to his mistress. Outraged by these revelations, Ms. Niu posted her husband's personal information and details of the affair on SNS using harsh language. Mr. Gao sued Ms. Niu for defamation.

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 uploading the apology videos as ordered, she incorporated detailed descriptions 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 rage," but also sarcastically remarked, "It seems you and your mistress are truly in love. Even if there are moral failings, your human rights and reputation deserve to be respected." During the apology, she also showed a photo of her husband injured after being beaten by the mistress's husband, saying, "I shouldn't have called you a 'pig' and mocked you. Getting beaten while protecting her makes you a true leader and lover." She then revealed photos of her own injuries from domestic violence, stating, "Your infidelity and violence have deeply hurt me, but that does not justify my wrongful actions," and added, "Emotional issues should be resolved legally."

These videos received explosive attention on local SNS platforms, gaining more than 350,000 followers in just a few days.

Local netizens who watched Ms. Niu's videos commented, "Ms. Niu may have lost legally, but she won morally," "A wise woman who turned a public apology into a public execution," "Ms. Niu's videos should be shown on large screens in shopping malls," and "The best revenge against a betrayer is to live even better yourself," expressing their support for her.

It is reported that Ms. Niu is now leveraging this attention to prepare for independence by venturing into live commerce (real-time broadcast sales), selling clothing and cosmetics.