Additional Coverage:
- Chinese teenagers who peed in hotpot ordered to apologize and pay more than $300,000 in damages (themirror.com)
Shanghai Teens Ordered to Pay Hefty Fine for Hot Pot Prank
Two teenagers and their parents have been ordered by a Shanghai court to issue a public apology and pay over $300,000 in damages after the teens filmed themselves urinating into a hot pot at a Haidilao restaurant. The incident, which occurred in a private dining room, came to light after one of the 17-year-olds, identified only by their surnames Wu and Tang, posted the video on social media.
The court found that the teens were “fully aware” of the potential negative consequences of their actions. The resulting viral video prompted Haidilao to issue a public apology, replace all utensils at the affected restaurant, refund over 4,000 customer orders, and provide tenfold compensation. While the court deemed the refunds reasonable, the additional compensation was considered a voluntary business decision.
Two catering companies, likely affiliated with Haidilao, sued the teens and their parents in March, seeking the apology and financial restitution. The court sided with the companies, holding the teens and their parents financially liable and mandating the public apology.
The incident has drawn sharp criticism, with state-run media outlets like CCTV News covering the court proceedings. China Comment, a magazine affiliated with the ruling Communist Party, published an editorial emphasizing the “heavy penalties” parents face for failing to supervise their children. The editorial condemned the teens’ behavior as a blatant disregard for social norms, stating that such actions can no longer be dismissed as mere pranks.