China cracks down on gay porn by rounding up erotic fiction writers - as one female author reveals humiliating punishment she was made to endure
Under the clampdown, which began in February, authors found guilty of producing and distributing 'obscene materials' could spend up to 10 years behind bars, the BBC reports.
At the centre of the crackdown is 'danmei', a type of erotic fiction that details sexual relations between male characters, and is mostly read and written by straight women.
Originally from Japan, the genre has become increasingly popular in China as it offers its readers an alternative to the stereotypes of passive and obedient women in heterosexual relationships.
But as danmei grows more popular in China, state media has begun to brand the genre as 'vulgar', claiming that its gay story lines could distort the sexual orientations of readers.
One woman, who goes by the name Pingping Anan Yongfu on social platform Weibo, was arrested and detailed her horrific ordeal on social media.
'I'll never forget it – being escorted to the car in full view, enduring the humiliation of stripping naked for examination in front of strangers, putting on a vest for photos, sitting in the chair, shaking with fear, my heart pounding,' she wrote.
But Pingping, whose post quickly went viral, was forced to delete her post.
She then admitted that she had broken the law and deleted her account.
The female authors who have been arrested so far this year had published their work on Haitian Literature City, a Taiwanese website that distributes 'danmei' content.
The harsh crackdown by Chinese authorities has prompted an online debate.
One Weibo user wrote: 'Is sex really something to be ashamed of?'.
Other online commentators have noted that some people convicted of rape have received lighter sentences than 'danmei' authors.
Meanwhile, #AuthorsArrested trended on Weibo before the tag was censored.
This is not the first time China has sought to silence erotic fiction authors.
Last year, 50 writers who had their work published on the site were prosecuted.
In 2018, authorities launched a campaign to 'eradicate pornography and illegal publications' by offering financial rewards for reporting banned content to police.
Weibo also made the decision to remove pornographic and gay content, but then reversed its decision after widespread criticism.
That same year, a Chinese author named only as Liu was sentenced to 10 years in prison after she self-published a book that 'obscenely and in detail described gay male-male acts'.
The court ruled that the strict sentence was enforced due to her having made 150,000 yuan (£16,774.1) by selling over 7,000 copies.
The case went viral on Chinese social media as commentators asked how such a punishment made sense when some sexual assault cases often drew lighter sentences.
Under Chinese pornography laws, 'explicit descriptions of gay sex or other sexual perversions' are strictly prohibited.
While homosexuality is not a crime in China, gay marriage is yet to be legalised , while same sex couples are forbidden from adopting children.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
3 hours ago
- Reuters
North Korea slams Quad for calling it to denuclearise, KCNA says
SEOUL, July 4 (Reuters) - North Korea slammed on Friday the Quad grouping of the United States, India, Japan and Australia for insisting North Korea denuclearise, according to its state media KCNA. North Korea also said the U.S. fabricated a "cyber threat" from North Korea, citing its Foreign Ministry spokesperson. The U.S. Department of Justice announced last month an arrest and indictments targeting North Korea's so-called "IT worker" program, in which North Koreans obtain remote IT-related positions at U.S. companies, and use that access to steal money and information from a host of companies around the world.
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Chilling theory about China's popular Labubus sported by Kim Kardashian and Rihanna: 'They're demonic'
They have become a global sensation, sported by celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Rihanna, but some claim the popular Labubu dolls 'carry demonic energy.' Labubu, a popular collectible toy, is a mischievous-looking creature with a round, furry body, wide eyes and a prominent, toothy grin, starting at $15 for a small vinyl figure to $960 for a large 'mega' edition. However, conspiracy theorists are spreading a chilling theory about the China-made collectibles, alleging they were inspired by Pazuzu, a demon from Mesopotamian mythology. Pazuzu is best known as the malevolent force that possesses Regan in the 1973 horror film The Exorcist. Internet sleuths point to the dolls' wide grins and pointy teeth, noting similarities to depictions of Pazuzu in ancient artifacts. The claims have taken TikTok by storm, with users suggesting the Bible itself warns against Labubus. 'There's a verse that says Satan disguises himself as an angel of light,' one user posted, referencing 2 Corinthians 11:14. Some believers have even taken to blessing their Labubu dolls with holy water to purge any perceived evil. Despite the swirling conspiracies, toy company Pop Mart insists Labubus are based on a Nordic-inspired creature from a children's book, also called Labubu. Kim Kardashian recently showcased her Labubu collection on Instagram, displaying 10 dolls arranged in two neat rows. Her son, Saint, briefly took over her account, pleading with Pop Mart to send him a giant Labubu and 'some rainbow teeth ones.' Meanwhile, her daughter, North West, was spotted with a gray Labubu dangling from her purse. Rihanna has also been seen carrying a pink Labubu attached to her handbag. The conspiracy has gained traction online, with TikTok user YouWontBelieveMe issuing a warning: 'If you have one of these in your home, be careful. These dolls are going viral, with people saying they carry demonic energy.' The user claimed Pazuzu is known for bringing chaos, citing unverified reports of doll owners hearing voices, experiencing nightmares and waking up with unexplained scratches. The theory has also spread to Reddit, where some users are attempting to sell their 'possessed Labubus.' One Redditor wrote: 'Does anyone want to buy possibly possessed Labubus? My boyfriend had a nightmare about my Labubu opening its eyes and hiding in my purse. I brushed it off, but now I'm not so sure.' 'Then my mom tells me how her friend (who is a nun) told her a little girl in Mexico had to get an exorcism and said her Labubu possessed her.' The user added that she and her boyfriend began hearing strange whispering and giggling sounds from behind their cat tree. Initially, they dismissed the noises, but when they recurred as they were getting into bed, she confronted the issue. 'I said, 'What is making that noise??' she recalled. Her partner replied, 'I bet you anything it's your Labubu.' Creeped out, she demanded the figures be removed from the room. She told him one Labubu was in the desk, but another was missing. That's when he checked behind the cat tree, where the noise had been coming from, and found it. They sealed the toys in a bag and stored them in an outside closet. Since then, she said, the strange noises have stopped. However, there's no evidence that Labubu dolls can make sounds or are linked to paranormal activity. Labubus are part of Pop Mart's 'The Monsters' series, a fictional universe of quirky, elf-like creatures blending whimsy with a hint of menace. The figures skyrocketed in popularity after Pop Mart released them in blind-box series, where buyers don't know which version they'll get until opening the box, fueling their mystique and collector frenzy. Though no evidence ties Labubu to the supernatural, their unsettling grin and eerie charm make them prime candidates for online ghost lore. 'I love them,' one fan wrote on X, 'but I keep mine in a sealed display case… just in case.' Pop Mart and creator Kasing Lung have never hinted at supernatural qualities, and many fans argue the rumors are a modern twist on the creepiness once attributed to porcelain dolls.
The Review Geek
7 hours ago
- The Review Geek
Spring of Youth – K-drama Episode 10 Recap, Review & Ending Explained
Episode 10 Episode 10 of Spring of Youth begins with Tae-yang rushing towards Sa Gye and stopping him from touching the mic while singing. However, Tae-yang touches the mic himself in the process and passes out. He is rushed to the hospital as Sa Gye realises he knew the truth about his father. Secretary Kang runs up and tells Sang-heon and Min-cheol what happened. Min-cheol arrives at the hospital in a panic but the doctor tells him that Tae-yang will recover. Bom realises Sa Gye knows something about Min-cheol but he doesn't tell her the truth. Instead, he runs out and calls Detective Min, the detective he's been talking to. He asks him to come to the broadcast station and find proof that this wasn't an accident. As the detective searches the site, he finds that the electricity went out for a few minutes. Sa Gye tells him that the mics must have been switched at that time. Meanwhile, Seung-su stops Secretary Kang from leaving and calls the police as well. Sa Gye even speaks to Reporter Han, who confesses that he's been working on a secret piece on Seo Min-cheol. It details how Min-cheol let an old woman die at the hospital in order to favour a politician's surgery. At the hospital, Tae-yang's vitals are good but he doesn't wake up. Sang-heon visits Min-cheol and when Min-cheol returns to the hospital room, he finds the bed empty. At home, Ja-young tells Bom and the others about a security guard who made her delete the photos in her camera when he caught her taking pictures. The man was none other than Secretary Kang. Luckily, she later took a video of him going into the security office. The next thing we know, Kang is arrested and the police arrive at Jo & Jo to arrest Sang-heon as well. Min-cheol realises Tae-yang is going to his mother's grave and heads over there. He finds Tae-yang standing at the edge of a cliff. Tae-yang calls his father cruel and says he's ashamed of his life. Min-cheol begs him not to and Tae-yang says he'll step down if Min-cheol confesses the truth. Bom goes to the police station with the video Ja-young recorded. She and Sa Gye go inside, where Sang-heon and Secretary Kang are being interrogated. The accident comes up as well but suddenly, Ji-na and Secretary Kang turn things around and blame Sa Gye and Bom of having a grudge against Sang-heon. However, Min-cheol arrives and offers a full confession. Now, Bom learns the truth about her mother's murder. The whole thing comes out and Min-cheol even has a recording of Sang-heon that implicates him. Bom is naturally distraught. She's even angry at Sa Gye for not telling her the truth sooner and tells him she doesn't want to see him. Sa Gye also realises he should have told her the truth sooner. The public learns about it as well but Bom spends her days shut up in her room. One day, Sa Gye suddenly finds her room empty. A letter from Bom says she will be gone for a while to look for what makes her happy. Soon after that, we learn that Sa Gye disappeared as well. The scene shifts to two years later. We see Bom arrive in South Korea and leave the airport. Tae-yang comes out as well and we learn he's been volunteering to help sick people. Bom gets a warm welcome at home from Ja-young, Gyu-ri and Jin-gu. Bom thanks Gyu-ri for sending her food in the US but Gyu-ri claims it wasn't her. Ja-young brings up Sa Gye and says she hasn't heard from him since he got discharged from the military. Gyu-ri quickly changes the topic and talks about how Bom has sold her songs to top artists. Meanwhile, Sa Gye is with his mother at her old salon. Although she's quite bad at haircuts and has resorted to selling side dishes instead. Bom and Sa Gye both keep thinking about each other. Sa Gye buys a bagel from the shop they had gone to but ends up giving it to a girl instead. She recognises him and posts a picture on social media, which finds its way to Bom. Bom then brings out the fox toy she won at his concert and remembers that he had promised the winner a date. That night, Bom, Gyu-ri, and Jin-gu head out for dinner and come across Tae-yang. Bom goes after him and tells him to be at peace, since none of it was his fault. She even thanks him for being there for her and promises to see him again. Sometime later, Tae-yang finds Sa Gye outside his house. Sa Gye knows he's been working with a non-profit and tells him to pursue his talents instead. He then gives Tae-yang an envelope that contains a flash drive. It's got a video of the group's early days as a band, which makes Tae-yang tear up. Sa Gye then meets with Seung-su, who has started his own entertainment company and brought The Crown back. But Sunder (the lead singer) is unwell and Seung-su wants Sa Gye to fill in for him. Sa Gye sings and plays the guitar from behind a curtain. Meanwhile, Jin-gu calls his father and begs him to meet his girlfriend. He then texts Sa Gye through his anonymous account Game Money and tells him to get the guitar to Hanju University (because he knows Bom is going there). Gyu-ri enters his room and the two are messing around when they fall over each other. Bom officially drops out of the university to focus on her songwriting career. She comes across Sa Gye at the same place they'd first met on campus. He returns her necklace and admits he's been a mess. Bom admits she was waiting for him and asks why he never called. She knows he was the one sending her food. She then reminds him of all the promises he made, pulling out the fox toy as well, to which Sa Gye finally relents and embraces her. He promises to never leave again. Spring of Youth Episode 10 ends with Two Sa Gye back together, playing Bom's song. The Episode Review Episode 10 brings Spring of Youth to a close and the finale is a mixed bag. It wraps up the Sang-heon and Min-cheol case quite quickly in the first half. Tae-yang uses his life to bargain with his father and it works; his confession brings everything down. The second half then dawdles, stretching out Bom's grieving process while not actually letting us in on it. While I understand her need to get away and process everything, the story might have had more impact had she found out the truth earlier. That way, we could have seen her grieve and also watch her relationship with Sa Gye grow. But, as per what seems to be a tradition in K-dramas, the main couple is forced apart into a long, drawn-out separation. A quick time jump later, their wounds have healed and they reunite. But the audience misses out on the road that got them there. It's still a happy ending in the end, though and as the final scenes suggest, Tae-yang gets back with the gang. A few minor things but it would have been nice for everyone to find out about Jin-gu's background and some closure on his relationship with Gyu-ri would have rounded everything off. Still, these characters are endearing enough that leaving them feels bittersweet. Previous Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
