This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-49830855
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Lisa Li: Angry landlord exposes online star's 'double life' | Lisa Li: Angry landlord exposes online star's 'double life' |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A social media influencer in China has been exposed for living a "double life", after her landlord revealed her filthy living conditions, which contrasted with the glamorous image she presented online. | |
Footage went viral showing the apartment of Lisa Li - a blogger with 1.1 million followers - littered with rubbish, mouldy food, and dog excrement. | Footage went viral showing the apartment of Lisa Li - a blogger with 1.1 million followers - littered with rubbish, mouldy food, and dog excrement. |
Since the footage was published, Ms Li has apologised. | Since the footage was published, Ms Li has apologised. |
Why was Ms Li famous? | Why was Ms Li famous? |
Lisa Li is known in China as a "wang hong", or "online celebrity", on the popular Sina Weibo microblog. | Lisa Li is known in China as a "wang hong", or "online celebrity", on the popular Sina Weibo microblog. |
Her account, like that of many young Chinese influencers, is a glossy catalogue of travel adventures, parties and fine-dining experiences. | Her account, like that of many young Chinese influencers, is a glossy catalogue of travel adventures, parties and fine-dining experiences. |
But since her landlord gave media a tour of her apartment in the northern city of Xi'an, she has become famous for different reasons. | But since her landlord gave media a tour of her apartment in the northern city of Xi'an, she has become famous for different reasons. |
What did her landlord do? | What did her landlord do? |
After Lisa Li seemingly ignored a number of phone calls, millions of users watched her landlord, named by media as Ms Chen, give a guided tour of her filthy apartment. | After Lisa Li seemingly ignored a number of phone calls, millions of users watched her landlord, named by media as Ms Chen, give a guided tour of her filthy apartment. |
Ms Chen told Pear Video that even professional cleaners had refused to clean the place, adding that her tenant owed thousands of yuan in unpaid utility bills. | Ms Chen told Pear Video that even professional cleaners had refused to clean the place, adding that her tenant owed thousands of yuan in unpaid utility bills. |
Ms Chen said that she had no choice but to contact the police about the damage to her property and the unpaid utilities. | Ms Chen said that she had no choice but to contact the police about the damage to her property and the unpaid utilities. |
But she particularly got social media attention for showing her tenant's Weibo page to the outlet, saying: "This is an online influencer with one million followers." | But she particularly got social media attention for showing her tenant's Weibo page to the outlet, saying: "This is an online influencer with one million followers." |
She told Pear Video in a passionate interview the "beautiful woman" being presented online contrasted with the "disgusting" woman who left her apartment in a mess. | She told Pear Video in a passionate interview the "beautiful woman" being presented online contrasted with the "disgusting" woman who left her apartment in a mess. |
How did Ms Li react? | How did Ms Li react? |
After millions of people saw the footage inside Ms Li's apartment, she suddenly resurfaced. | After millions of people saw the footage inside Ms Li's apartment, she suddenly resurfaced. |
And rather than issuing a statement on social media, Ms Li met with her landlord to apologise in person. | And rather than issuing a statement on social media, Ms Li met with her landlord to apologise in person. |
"Complete responsibility lies with me on this incident," she told Ms Chen. They were filmed shaking hands. | "Complete responsibility lies with me on this incident," she told Ms Chen. They were filmed shaking hands. |
She explained her absence to popular news website The Paper as being the result of a tight schedule, saying that she went into hospital last week, and then went on a business trip. | She explained her absence to popular news website The Paper as being the result of a tight schedule, saying that she went into hospital last week, and then went on a business trip. |
She said that she had recently received a large number of messages on mobile WeChat, and had seemingly missed her landlord's. | She said that she had recently received a large number of messages on mobile WeChat, and had seemingly missed her landlord's. |
"I will clean now… I will even clean overnight," she told The Paper. | "I will clean now… I will even clean overnight," she told The Paper. |
How have Ms Li's fans reacted? | How have Ms Li's fans reacted? |
Footage of Ms Li sweeping dog poo into a dustpan has shocked her fans, and led to a large amount of mockery online. | Footage of Ms Li sweeping dog poo into a dustpan has shocked her fans, and led to a large amount of mockery online. |
More than 60,000 users have commented on her page, many saying they were unfollowing her and calling her "fake". | More than 60,000 users have commented on her page, many saying they were unfollowing her and calling her "fake". |
Many have also questioned her sincerity in her interviews with mainstream media. Users noted she has changed her social media handle and removed a number of earlier posts. | Many have also questioned her sincerity in her interviews with mainstream media. Users noted she has changed her social media handle and removed a number of earlier posts. |
Is this the first time this type of thing has happened? | Is this the first time this type of thing has happened? |
China is on a huge drive to push for celebrities to be "socially responsible". | China is on a huge drive to push for celebrities to be "socially responsible". |
It heavily frowns on influencers not setting a good example to young followers, and has a track record of making examples of such people, arguing that stars need to be good role models and preserve a healthy online culture. | It heavily frowns on influencers not setting a good example to young followers, and has a track record of making examples of such people, arguing that stars need to be good role models and preserve a healthy online culture. |
In July, a Chinese vlogger became the subject of widespread mockery, after a technical glitch during a live-stream revealed her to be a middle-aged woman, and not the young woman she had presented herself to be. | In July, a Chinese vlogger became the subject of widespread mockery, after a technical glitch during a live-stream revealed her to be a middle-aged woman, and not the young woman she had presented herself to be. |
Some "badly behaved" influencers have even received short jail terms. In October 2018, Yang Kaili, a live-streaming celebrity with tens of millions of followers, was detained for five days for "insulting" the country's national anthem. | Some "badly behaved" influencers have even received short jail terms. In October 2018, Yang Kaili, a live-streaming celebrity with tens of millions of followers, was detained for five days for "insulting" the country's national anthem. |
The live-streaming platform she used, Huya, took down her video and banned her channel, saying: "Live-streaming platforms are not above the law - the law and moral standards similarly apply there." | The live-streaming platform she used, Huya, took down her video and banned her channel, saying: "Live-streaming platforms are not above the law - the law and moral standards similarly apply there." |
BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook. | BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook. |
Previous version
1
Next version