On March 6th, multiple videos appeared online. According to the videos, a man was suspected of standing on a table and urinating into a hot pot, while he also laughed with his companions and said he wanted to let others taste the urine pot. Netizens protested against this malicious and disgusting behavior, demanding that Haidilao and the police investigate thoroughly. On the evening of March 6th, Haidilao’s official Weibo account responded that they had reported the case to police authorities in multiple locations and were fully cooperating with relevant departments to trace the source. Whether it was staged or not, they stated they would resolutely pursue legal responsibility for those involved according to the law. On March 8th, the Huangpu police in Shanghai announced that two 17-year-old boys who urinated into the hot pot while intoxicated had been detained.
The police report stated that in the early morning of February 24th, Tang (male, 17) and Wu (male, 17), who came from other provinces and cities to Shanghai, entered a private room in the hot pot restaurant to dine. After drinking, Tang and Wu respectively stood on the dining table and urinated into the hot pot. Wu also posted the video online. Currently, the police have legally detained Tang and Wu with administrative detention.
The incident was quickly resolved largely because outraged netizens protested against the behavior, forcing Haidilao to report the case to the police for their own interests. After the police announcement, many netizens suggested that Haidilao sue for compensation, “to make them feel the pain of loss, otherwise, merely detaining these thugs is not punishment, but rather encouraging them and making them boast everywhere.” However, Haidilao only responded with vague statements such as “thanks to the police for quickly and efficiently clarifying the case,” “strongly condemning,” and “Haidilao always prioritizes food safety and customer experience.” On March 8th, reporters contacted the Huangpu Branch of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau to ask whether they had contacted the guardians of Tang and Wu. The police said they could not disclose details of the case and that everything was subject to the police report. In fact, their claim of “intoxication” was likely just an excuse to evade responsibility. From the video, the shoes worn by the man standing on the table and urinating into the pot are branded luxury goods, Gucci. The fact that underage individuals can wear luxury brands, drink alcohol, and dine at Haidilao indicates that their families are definitely not proletariat or bankrupt petty bourgeoisie. The family background of the bourgeoisie is the foundation for their moral corruption and the reason why they can evade punishment and why the police do not respond.
