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An online influencer in China has faced widespread criticism for live-streaming and accepting tips while sitting in a rescue boat during severe flooding in Liuzhou, Guangxi province. The incident occurred after the area was hit by heavy rains, prompting the Nanning branch of Blue Sky Rescue, China’s largest non-governmental humanitarian organization, to launch rescue operations on June 19.
The influencer, known as Zhang or "Dabao in Liuzhou" on Douyin, boasts over 230,000 followers on the platform. During the floods, Zhang live-streamed from a rescue boat, wearing a life jacket and using beauty filters, while focusing the camera primarily on herself rather than the ongoing rescue efforts or the severe flooding conditions.
The duration of Zhang's live stream and the amount she earned from tips remain unclear. However, her actions quickly drew complaints from viewers, leading the rescue team to request her to leave the boat. Despite the backlash, Zhang remained unapologetic, arguing that technical difficulties prevented her from disabling the tipping function during the live stream.
On July 7, Blue Sky Rescue Team issued a statement clarifying that Zhang had been invited by their captain, surnamed Zhao, to document the rescue operations. However, they later discovered that Zhang's live stream focused more on her than the large-scale rescue efforts. Consequently, Zhang was asked to leave the boat, with the team emphasizing that any tips she received were not connected to their organization.
In an interview with Zonglan News, Zhang confirmed that she was friends with members of the rescue team and had been invited to live-stream the operation. She defended her actions, stating that she had to focus the camera on herself to comply with platform regulations and maintain her safety on the moving boat.
“The live-stream lasted for only half an hour, and I hardly received any tips,” Zhang claimed, adding that it was technically challenging to turn off the tipping function during the broadcast. She further stated, “People can say whatever they want. If you’re doing nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear.”
Zhang's attitude has ignited anger online, with many condemning her for turning a rescue operation into a platform for personal gain. One online observer remarked, “The rescue scene turned into a show for the influencer to make money from tips, which is truly despicable!” Another pointed out, “Bringing one more person on the rescue boat means rescuing one less person! The rescue team was unprofessional.” A third commenter added, “A rescue scene is not a live-stream room. Please show some respect for the rescue operation.”
Source: SCMP
