Suicide of Fat Cat

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Fat Cat
胖猫
Fat Cat's online avatar, with the text below reading: "I don't want vegetables, I want McDonald's."[a]
Born
Liu Jie

(2003-05-18)May 18, 2003
Linwu, Chenzhou, Hunan, China
DiedApril 11, 2024(2024-04-11) (aged 20)
Yuzhong, Chongqing, China
Cause of deathSuicide
NationalityChinese

On 11 April 2024, at 4:43 AM,[1] a 20-year-old Chinese male gamer known as "Fat Cat" (simplified Chinese: 胖猫; traditional Chinese: 胖貓; pinyin: Pàngmāo) committed suicide by jumping off the Shibanpo Yangtze River Bridge after transferring RMB 66,000 (US$9,000 at the time) to his girlfriend, who wanted to break up with him. The incident gained widespread media attention the following month, especially in Southeast Asian countries.[2][3] The incident has been called the Fat Cat Incident (胖猫事件), the Fat Cat Jumps into the River Incident (胖猫跳江事件) and the Fat Cat-Tan Zhu Incident (胖猫谭竹事件).

Background[edit]

Fat Cat, whose real name was Liu Jie[4] (simplified Chinese: 刘杰; traditional Chinese: 劉傑; pinyin: Liú Jié), was born in Chenzhou, Hunan Province, on 18 May 2003. In November 2021,[5] he met Tan Zhu (born 1997 in Shizhu, Chongqing) through the mobile game Honor of Kings. Tan Zhu repeatedly requested money transfers from Fat Cat under various pretenses. Fat Cat's primary source of income was playing the game for others ("game boosting"). He helped her open a flower shop in December 2023, contributing 70,000 yuan to the business. According to chat logs, Fat Cat and Tan Zhu had agreed to marry in May 2024. However, in April 2024, Tan Zhu broke up with Fat Cat, saying that he "could not provide her with emotional value". Determined to salvage the relationship, Fat Cat traveled from Hunan to Chongqing, but Tan Zhu refused his suggestion of cohabitation. Fat Cat then transferred his remaining RMB 66,000 (equivalent to $9,000 USD at the time) to Tan Zhu and jumped off the Shibanpo Yangtze River Bridge in Chongqing. According to Fat Cat's family, he had transferred a total of RMB 510,000 ($70,500) to Tan Zhu online over the course of two years.[6]

The Shibanpo Yangtze River Bridge where Fat Cat jumped off.

Fat Cat's body was found 12 days later.[7] Following the incident, Tan Zhu publicly apologized for her actions and expressed regret. She also denied the claim that Fat Cat had transferred RMB 510,000 to her. In the aftermath of the incident, Tan Zhu reached an agreement with Fat Cat's father to pay RMB 130,000 in compensation. However, upon recalculating the total amount transferred between the two, Fat Cat's sister discovered that the actual figure was RMB 510,000 ($70,500).[8] She subsequently posted a video online exposing the discrepancy, bringing the incident to widespread public attention. Fat Cat's body was cremated on 3 May 2024.[9][10]

Aftermath and condolences[edit]

In early May, the "Fat Cat incident" was the top trending search topic on Weibo's hot search list.[11]

Around 3 May 2024, many Chongqing residents began gathering at the Shibanpo Yangtze River Bridge to pay their respects to Fat Cat. They placed flowers, McDonald's meals, and bubble tea at the site, inspired by Fat Cat's profile picture that read, "I don't want vegetables, I want McDonald's."[12][13] The quote is believed to be his last wish and the last frame in his WeChat profile picture.[14] On the evening of May 3, Fat Cat's sister, concerned about the growing congestion and disruption to traffic, took to live streaming to urge netizens to refrain from ordering takeout to the bridge.[2] The Beijing News stated that using food to commemorate the deceased was "wrong" and "wasteful," instead urging people to commemorate the victims solely with flowers on the bridge.[2]

Many netizens who had ordered takeout to be delivered to the Chongqing Yangtze River Bridge in his memory found that the packages were empty, containing no food. In some cases, bubble tea was replaced with plain water, sparking outrage among netizens.[2][15] In response to the public outcry, five brands involved in the incident—ChaPanda, Mixue Ice Cream & Tea, Wallace, NewYoBo, and Zhu Xiaoxiao Snail Noodle—issued apologies. They announced various punitive measures against the offending stores, including temporary closure, suspension of operations, and termination of contracts. Additionally, they pledged to fully refund the affected orders and provide 10 times the amount as compensation.[16] Furthermore, ChaPanda and Wallace announced the dismissal of the employees involved in the incident. ChaPanda also made a RMB 1 million donation to the Sichuan Youth Development Foundation in Fat Cat's name.[17]

According to VnExpress, McDonald's Vietnam launched a new slogan: "If you don't like vegetables, eat chicken with BBQ cheese." This slogan has aroused great anger among netizens, and many people have criticized the chain store for being "cold-blooded" and "immoral." Vietnamese netizens expressed outrage at the slogan and called for a boycott of the brand. McDonald's later realized the gaffe and posted an apology on its Facebook page.[12][18]

Amidst a wave of online outrage, Tan Zhu issued an apology through two videos on the evening of May 4. She expressed her deep regret and sorrow over the passing of Fat Cat. She revealed that she had told Fat Cat that she wanted to break up to test whether he still loved her.[19]

"I truly regret it, Fat Cat; I didn't cherish you properly. Now I just want to make amends. Can you come back? I'm truly sorry for disappointing you."

— Tan Zhu

However, Tan Zhu's apology was not recognized by netizens. Many netizens felt that her apology lacked sincerity and remorse, viewing it as a temporary measure to escape public pressure. Some netizens even expressed outrage at Tan Zhu's attire in the apology video.[19] Fat Cat's sister also called the police on his ex-girlfriend, accusing her of money fraud. The Hunan police are investigating whether her actions constituted a scam.[20] Upon reviewing the monetary transactions between the two individuals, the police confirmed that they had been in a relationship for over two years, had visited each other's families and friends, and had financial interactions. Tan was not found to have fabricated or concealed information to obtain property under the pretense of a relationship; thus, the case did not amount to fraud.[21]

Friends of Tan Zhu have revealed that she had previously admitted to liking girls and had broken up with Fat Cat in April of last year. However, they continued their relationship because Fat Cat continued to send her money.[19]

The incident quickly sparked online discussions in China about the loss of life values and goals among young people, as well as the lack of conscience and moral bottom line in society. When the death was reported in late April, it attracted 120 million views and sparked 735,000 discussion threads so far.[20] Some netizens also believe that the authorities are trying to use the "Fat Cat" incident to divert public attention from the recent collapse of the collapse of the Melong Expressway in Guangdong, which caused significant casualties.[16][22]

Chinese actress Zhao Yingzi has also spoken out in support of Fat Cat and hopes that no one encounters someone like Tan Zhu. The actress also urged everyone to love themselves more.[23]

After news of the incident broke, numerous social media accounts circulated images accompanied by sorrowful commentary purportedly depicting Fat Cat. However, it was later revealed that these images were not of Fat Cat but of a teacher named Yang Ruo, who operates the Douyin account under the same name. Based in Guangxi, Yang Ruo creates educational content related to his teaching profession. The mix-up led to unfortunate misunderstandings for Yang Ruo, prompting criticism on social media platforms. Yang Ruo clarified that he is not acquainted with Fat Cat and has no connection to his story.[3]

Many netizens have compared this incident with the Suicide of Su Xiangmao [zh], expressing regret for the Fat Cat and accusing Tan Zhu of scamming Fat Cat.[17][24] Tan Zhu has continued to face heightened scrutiny and criticism online, with many asserting she "digs mines" and deceives and manipulates others' emotions.[3]

According to The Straits Times, Fat Cat's suicide highlights the pressures men face in the marriage market in China. Analysts suggest that the case has struck a chord with many young Chinese, especially men, who confront significant challenges in finding a wife and are anticipated to be the primary financial providers in relationships.[20]

Beijing-based data analyst Zhang Qiang advocated for further discussion on the necessity of cai li or bride price, stating, "We need to ensure that things improve so that Fat Cat's death wouldn't be in vain."[20]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Chinese: 我不要吃菜 我要吃麦当劳

References[edit]

  1. ^ 許祺安 (3 May 2024). "胖貓事件│21歲深情男2年給女友51萬 分手後跳江自殺". 香港01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Ma, Diming. He, Ruiming (ed.). "祭奠"胖猫"反映世道人心，但外卖真的可以不送了" [Memorial to 'Fat Cat' Reflects the People' Will, But Takeout Really Should be Stopped]. The Beijing News (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "The famous handsome teacher on Douyin was mistaken for a Fat Cat gamer". VGT TV. 8 May 2024.
  4. ^ Pan, Yi (7 May 2024). "胖貓為愛走上絕路！遺體12天才撈到". NOWnews (in Traditional Chinese) – via Yahoo News.
  5. ^ "警方通报"胖猫"事件调查情况：谭某不构成诈骗犯罪". 19 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  6. ^ Tang, Chenchen (4 May 2024). "21岁男生"胖猫"在重庆跳江去世，转账给网恋女友的几十万，家属能否追回？" [21-year-old boy 'Fat Cat' jumped into the river in Chongqing died, can the family recover the hundreds of thousands of yuan transferred to the online girlfriend?]. Chengshi News. Sina News. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Part 4｜在江里漂了10多天 胖猫打捞现场 曝光" [Part 4|Drifting in the river for more than 10 days, salvage scene of the fat cat revealed]. China Press (in Simplified Chinese). 6 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Who Was Pang Mao? Chinese Gamer 'Fat Cat' Dies By Suicide At 21". Times Now. 11 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  9. ^ Xu, Qi'an (3 May 2024). "胖貓事件│21歲深情男2年給女友51萬 分手後跳江自殺" [Fat cat incident | 21 year old loving man gave his girlfriend 510,000 RMB during 2 years and jumped into the river to commit suicide after the breakup]. HK01 (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  10. ^ "VIDEO: Viral, Love Story Of Gamer From China Fat Cat". VOI - Waktunya Merevolusi Pemberitaan.
  11. ^ Jing, Chen (9 May 2024). "当"胖猫之死"占据热搜" [When "Fat Cat's Death" Dominates Hot Searches]. Lianhe Zaobao (in Simplified Chinese).
  12. ^ a b "Part 7｜越南麦当劳 蹭胖猫 "好想吃麦当劳"引怒火" [Part 7|Vietnamese McDonald's imitation of Fat Cat's "I want to eat McDonald's" draws ire]. China Press (in Simplified Chinese). 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Some young Vietnamese people "imitated" going to West Lake to drop food for Fat Cat, causing outrage". VGT TV. 7 May 2024.
  14. ^ Luo, Yuxin (7 May 2024). "玩家胖猫之死" [The Death of Player Fat Cat]. Sin Chew Daily (in Simplified Chinese).
  15. ^ Zhu, Yuanxiang (4 May 2024). "祭奠"胖猫"的外卖出现空包或注水，五家餐饮连锁品牌致歉" [Five Restaurant Chains Apologize for Empty or Watered-down Takeaways in Memory of 'Fat Cat']. The Paper (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  16. ^ a b ""胖猫"事件发酵 中国舆论反思社会道德底线" [The "Fat Cat" incident ferments; Chinese public opinion reflects on the bottom line of social morality]. Radio Free Asia (in Simplified Chinese). 5 May 2024.
  17. ^ a b Shi, Wei; Yu, Yan. Huang, Zuochun (ed.). "现场直击重庆长江大桥：外卖鲜花成堆 "胖猫"姐姐呼吁别再点了" [Chongqing Yangtze River Bridge: takeaway and flowers in piles, sister of 'Fat Cat' calls not to order anymore]. Cover News (in Simplified Chinese). China Central Television. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  18. ^ Hoang, Vu (7 May 2024). "McDonald's Vietnam apologizes for slogan mocking tragic death of Chinese man". VnExpress International. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  19. ^ a b c "Chân dung bạn gái Mèo Béo trong vụ nhảy cầu tự tử: Đời tư hỗn loạn, ngoài đời có xinh đẹp như trên ảnh?" [Portrait of Fat Cat's girlfriend in the suicide jumping case: Is her personal life as chaotic as it seems, or is she as beautiful in real life as she appears in photos?]. Saostar (in Vietnamese). 7 May 2024.
  20. ^ a b c d Wei, Aw Cheng (14 May 2024). "21-year-old's suicide highlights pressures men face in marriage market in China". The Straits Times.
  21. ^ "Her Boyfriend Killed Himself. The Internet Blamed Her". SixthTone. 20 May 2024.
  22. ^ "电竞男生去世受关注 网民：热度盖过梅大高速塌方" [Gaming boy's death in the spotlight while netizens say the heat may overshadow the Melong Expressway collapse]. Deutsche Welle (in Simplified Chinese). 4 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  23. ^ "「胖貓」遭女友榨227萬身亡 女星發聲卻被網友怒罵：什麼都蹭" ["Fat Cat" was exploited by his girlfriend for 2.27 million yuan and died. When a female celebrity spoke out, she was angrily criticized by netizens for "jumping on the bandwagon."]. China Times (in Chinese). 5 May 2024.
  24. ^ He, Li (9 May 2024). "风声OPINION - 网恋自杀的胖猫悲剧，是感情问题还是法律问题？" [OPINION: The tragedy of the fat cat who committed suicide online, is it a relationship issue or a legal issue?]. China Digital Times (in Simplified Chinese).
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