Desperate For Fame, 2 Teens Urinated In A Hotpot. Then, 4,000 People Ate It

Last Updated:September 29, 2025, 13:10 IST

A court ordered the families of the teens to pay a combined fine of 2.2 million yuan (approximately Rs 2.5 crore or $300,000)

A disturbing incident from Shanghai, one of China’s most vibrant cities, has drawn sharp criticism and sparked national debate, highlighting the darker side of social media obsession, raising concerns over parental responsibility, and prompting serious legal consequences.

In early 2025, two 17-year-old boys, surnamed Wu and Tang, drunkenly carried out a vile prank at a branch of the popular Haidilao hotpot chain. While dining with friends, the teens entered a private room, climbed onto a table, and proceeded to urinate into a pot of hot broth, laughing throughout and filming the act.

The video was uploaded to Douyin (China’s version of TikTok) and quickly went viral, prompting widespread outrage across the country.

Nearly 4,000 Customers Affected

Investigations later revealed that almost 4,000 diners had consumed food prepared using the contaminated broth. The viral video caused a public relations disaster for Haidilao, resulting in significant financial losses.

The restaurant swiftly responded by closing the branch for investigation and issuing full refunds to affected customers.

A Haidilao spokesperson commented, “This incident has severely damaged our brand reputation. We take customer health and safety extremely seriously.”

Legal Action And Public Outcry

The video, though deleted, had already been widely circulated through screenshots and screen recordings. Netizens condemned the teens as “vile” and “morally bankrupt”, while others questioned the role of their parents and the influence of social media.

Because the offenders were minors, they were not jailed. However, on September 16, 2025, a Shanghai court handed down a landmark ruling. Under China’s civil code, which holds parents accountable for their underage children, the court ordered the families to pay a combined fine of 2.2 million yuan (approximately Rs 2.5 crore or $300,000).

This was to cover damages to Haidilao, including customer compensation, brand impact, and investigation costs. In addition, the families were required to publish a formal public apology on the Chinese social platform Weibo.

Judge Takes A Firm Stand

In court, the judge remarked: “Such behaviour poses not only a serious health hazard but is also an affront to public decency.” The verdict came as a shock to the families.

Wu’s father, a businessman, told local media: “Our children made a serious mistake. We will honour the court’s decision, but this has been devastating for our family.” Tang’s parents also expressed deep remorse, revealing that the boys had also been struggling with drug addiction.

As part of the ruling, the court ordered both teens to complete community service, undergo psychological counselling, and imposed a social media ban.

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