Refer China: Smoker Attacks Foreign Protester-China Netizens Crown Him a Hero

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A British expatriate in Shanghai has won widespread praise from Chinese netizens after standing up to a man smoking in a restaurant—an act that turned physical and sparked online outrage.

A Shanghai-based foreign influencer has been praised online for challenging a Chinese diner who lit up in a non-smoking restaurant in the city. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Douyin

The incident, shared on July 29 by influencer @alibabameAilun (real name Malik), has gone viral, amassing 200,000 likes and 22,000 comments, with many Chinese users applauding his courage.

What Happened?

Malik, who has 87,000 followers on a Chinese short-video platform Douyin(Chinese TikTok), spotted a man smoking indoors at a Shanghai restaurant—a clear violation of the city's 2017 indoor smoking ban. A "No Smoking" sign was visibly displayed on the wall.

The influencer filmed the Chinese diner holding a lit cigarette in his right hand. Photo: Douyin

Filming the encounter, Malik repeatedly told the smoker and his companion in English:

"This is against the law."
"Go outside to smoke."

The foreigner, who is believed to be British, points to a clearly positioned no-smoking sign on the wall of the restaurant. Photo: Douyin

The smoker, visibly angered, yelled at Malik to stop recording and attempted to grab his phone, injuring the influencer's hand in the process. At one point, the man shouted, "This is China!"—implying the foreigner had no right to intervene.

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Online Backlash Against the Smoker

Chinese netizens overwhelmingly supported Malik, flooding his comments with messages like:

"As a Chinese person, I support you."
"You're a real superhero. Disgusting smokers have no idea how much harm they cause."
"That man yelling 'This is China' made me cringe."

Some users even trolled the restaurant on Dazhong Dianping (a Yelp-like platform), renaming dishes to "second-hand smoked lamb chops" and "nicotine-infused rice."

Police Response & Legal Consequences

Malik reported the altercation to Shanghai police, who issued a statement on August 2 suggesting both parties shared responsibility—a conclusion that frustrated supporters.

Under Shanghai's regulations:

Individuals smoking indoors face fines up to 200 yuan ($28).
Venues allowing smoking can be fined up to 30,000 yuan ($4,200).

A Pattern of Advocacy

This isn't Malik's first time confronting smokers. He has previously filmed similar encounters across Shanghai, urging compliance with the ban. While some speculate his actions are "publicity stunts," many argue: