A Chinese influencer has become the second to die in a month after live-streaming a drinking challenge online.
Zhong Yuan Huang Ge, 27, also known as Brother Huang, died from excessive consumption of alcohol on June 2.
His death was confirmed by his wife on Chinese media outlet Jimu News on Tuesday, who said he was trying to earn money to repay his debts.
It is the second incident in a month, after livestreamer Brother Three Thousand, 34, was found dead shortly after he was seen consuming excessive amounts of alcohol on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok.
Brother Three Thousand, whose last name was revealed as Wang, had knocked back at least seven bottles of baijiu spirits during a livestream and was found dead 12 hours after the broadcast on May 16, Chinese media reported.
Zhong Yuan Huang Ge, 27, has become the second Chinese influencer to die from an online drinking challenge in a month
Video clips posted online to his 176,000 followers showed dozens of bottles stacked up
In one video to his 176,000 followers, Huang had also filmed himself downing baijiu and lighting tissue paper soaked in alcohol, while another clip showed a stack of dozens of bottles.
His wife, known as Ms Li, said she would work for the rest of her life to pay of her husband of eight years’ debts, according to Straits Times.
The couple share a son, who is getting ready to start kindergarten this year and Huang had built a new house just this year.
According to local media outlet Southern Metropolis Daily, the two influencers knew each other, and Huang had even attended Wang’s funeral, where he had allegedly pledged to consume less alcohol.
Baijiu contains up to 60 per cent alcohol. Huang and Wang had been known for imbibing the Chinese liquor during his broadcasts.
Posting daring stunts online is thought by some influencers to increase their chances of receiving money from their followers.
A video on social media, which went viral, showed Wang drinking several bottles of baijiu spirits and pouring some out to set fire to it on the table.
His death was widely discussed online in China and has prompted calls for stronger regulations of the nation’s thriving livestreaming industry.
It comes after Brother Three Thousand (pictured), 34, consumed at least seven bottles of baijiu spirits during a livestream on May 16
Huang also filmed himself downing baijiu and lighting tissue paper soaked in alcohol
On May 16, Wang had taken part in four one-on-one battles with influencers with the aim of earning the most amount of gifts from fans within a short space of time.
He lost three of the rounds and then consumed baijiu as a punishment, totalling at least seven bottles that night, according to viewers.
Wang finished his livestreaming after midnight. His friend told a Chinese news outlet that he was discovered dead the following afternoon.
‘When his family found him, he was already gone. He didn’t even get a chance for emergency treatment,’ a man named Mr Zhao told Shangyou News.
Drinking during livestreams is banned by Douyin. Penalties include warnings, users being restricted from livestream competitions and users being shown on the app.
Wang had previously been banned from the app for drinking but he bypassed this by opening new accounts, Chinese media reported.
His most recent account had amassed more than 44,000 followers.
A report by authorities last year found more than one billion internet users were active on short video platforms such as Douyin and the industry is worth around 199 billion yuan (£22billion).
On May 16, Wang had taken part in four one-on-one battles with influencers with the aim of earning the most amount of gifts from fans within a short space of time
Pictured: The livestreamer, whose last name was revealed as Wang by local media, during a broadcast which saw him down spirits and set fire to some of the liquid on the table
Wang had previously been banned from the app for drinking but he bypassed this by opening new accounts, Chinese media reported
Wang’s death has led to a further push for the safety and regulations of such apps.
The opinion section of the People’s Daily newspaper posted a message on Weibo condemning ‘livestream behaviours that go off the tracks’.
There are a number of Chinese livestreamers whose deaths have been linked to their online work.
In 2021, Yu Hailong, who became popular for eating massive quantities of food on Douyin, died after ‘long hours of high-intensity work’, his agent said.
In 2018, livestreamer Dafei, who was known for drinking alcohol and cooking oil in front of an audience, also died shortly after an online broadcast.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk