A Chinese influencer faces backlash for filming his wife's 23-hour labor, including a medical emergency, and including a diaper advertisement. The video was removed and his account banned for violating platform rules.
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A Chinese content creator with millions of followers has triggered fierce online backlash after uploading a lengthy video documenting his wife's entire childbirth, including moments of medical emergency and a commercial advertisement.
The influencer, widely known online as "Paul in USA", built his popularity by sharing daily life as a Chinese professional living in Seattle. A graduate of Columbia University and a former product manager at Microsoft, he has attracted more than 12 million followers on the short-video platform Douyin with his distinctive personality and Northeastern Chinese accent.
Filming through a medical crisis
The controversy began when he posted a video showing the full 23-hour labour of his wife. During the delivery, she suffered severe complications, including a third-degree perineal tear and heavy postpartum haemorrhaging. Medical staff later confirmed she lost more than 3 litres of blood and required emergency surgery and a transfusion before being declared out of danger, together with their newborn daughter.
Despite the life-threatening situation, the camera continued recording, capturing scenes of intense pain, treatment procedures and parts of her body being exposed. The decision to keep filming during the emergency quickly became the focus of public anger.
Advertisement fuels outrage
What angered viewers even more was the inclusion of a paid promotion for nappies within the childbirth footage. The influencer personally read the advertising script on camera, leading many to accuse him of turning a deeply private and dangerous moment into a commercial opportunity.
Industry data shows he typically charges hundreds of thousands of yuan for short promotional videos, though the exact income from this particular advertisement has not been disclosed.
Platform ban and public reaction
As criticism spread across Chinese social media, the video was removed and his account was later banned for violating platform rules.
Many online commenters said the recording showed a lack of concern for his partner's dignity and safety. Some argued that documenting childbirth for educational purposes could be meaningful, but doing so while inserting advertisements crossed an ethical line.
Wife responds to criticism
In a social media post, the influencer's wife defended the original intention behind the recording, saying the couple wanted to present an honest account of childbirth and did not expect the severe complications. She added that some viewers had told them the video helped raise awareness about the real risks of delivery and the fact that not all births are smooth.
However, her explanation did little to calm the debate, which has since evolved into a broader discussion in China about privacy, consent, family content and the limits of monetising personal life online.
Source:https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3343290/nudity-china-influencer-slammed-profiting-privacy-live-streaming-wifes-childbirth
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