Influencer in China faces criminal probe after faking pregnancy to find a 'rich' husband and increase followers

In an attempt to increase her social media following, a 32-year-old online influencer, known as Chenxiaosi on Douyin, falsely claimed to be five months pregnant and sought a husband at a matchmaking event in southwestern China’s Sichuan province.

Sporting a fake baby bump, she joined a local matchmaking corner, holding a paper detailing her personal information and criteria for a potential husband, demanding a flat, car, a monthly salary exceeding 20,000 yuan (US$2,800), and kindness toward her and the unborn child.

In a circulated video, she engaged with potential suitors, asserting, “Although the child is not yours, I’m yours,” but insisted on financial criteria.

The video gained online attention, prompting suspicions of its authenticity. Authorities later revealed on Weibo that Chenxiaosi admitted to fabricating the story for social media attention, leading to a formal investigation.

The influencer’s social media account appears to be closed, and her stunt faced widespread criticism on mainland social media, with users expressing disbelief and condemning her shameless lie.

This incident follows a pattern of individuals resorting to controversial actions to boost online profiles, with similar cases, including a detainment of an influencer staging a “sexual harassment” incident and the tragic death of an online influencer after excessive alcohol consumption during a live stream.