Chinese police have detained and fined a man suspected of posting insulting remarks about Olympic diving champion Quan Hongchan in an online harassment case.
On Friday, the Yuexiu Branch of Guangzhou Public Security Bureau reported that the 31-year-old suspect, surnamed Xu, is an amateur diving enthusiast. The suspect created a WeChat group, where he repeatedly changed his nickname and posted insulting comments targeting an athlete from Guangdong Ersha Sports Training Center. According to CCTV News, this athlete is Quan Hongchan.
On the same day, the Cybersecurity Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security published on its WeChat public account that the suspect created a diving “fan circle” WeChat group, inviting industry insiders and fans, and to vent his dissatisfaction and anger, he repeatedly changed nicknames and made insulting remarks in the group targeting an athlete from Ersha Sports Training Center, “maliciously inciting conflicts and causing a negative impact.”
The Guangzhou Yuexiu police also stated that the suspect has been given an administrative detention of 10 days and fined, and that other individuals involved in related conduct within the group have also been dealt with in accordance with the law.
Quan Hongchan, who just turned 19, mentioned in recent interviews that negative online comments about her weight and external pressures have long subjected her to immense psychological stress.
Meanwhile, circulating chat screenshots show that a WeChat group called “Splash Conquerors Alliance” had been posting insulting comments about Quan Hongchan for an extended period; reportedly, group members include Quan’s teammates and other professionals from the diving community.
The Ersha Sports Training Center, where Quan Hongchan trains, issued a statement, announcing that it had reported the online harassment incident involving Quan to the police.
As for the suspect’s detention, Xinhua News Agency posted on Weibo on Friday night: “This makes it clear: cyberbullying pushes the boundaries of the law and must be legally punished. This is not only justice for Quan Hongchan, but also support for all victims of online bullying. Quan’s remarkable ‘splash-disappearing technique’ amazed the world—we must use the law to thoroughly wipe out the ‘splashes’ of cyberbullying!”