Chinese fitness influencer shut down for ‘provocative’ cosplaying Aquaman live-stream
Figure-hugging superhero costume overexposes ‘sensitive body part’, forces popular social media platform to act over ‘inappropriate clothing’
A popular fitness influencer in China has made headlines after his recent live-stream was forcibly shut down for being “too provocative”.
The sanction came after he cosplayed as Aquaman, reigniting a public debate about platform policy and content moderation.
Liu Genghong, 52, who was born and raised in Taiwan, initially made his reputation as a singer, actor, and a former lyricist for the popular entertainer, Jay Chou.
In 2022, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Liu began live-streaming fitness sessions and quickly gained a massive following with his unique approach.
He combined popular music with high-energy workouts that could be done at home without professional gym equipment.
On April 1, Liu, who has more than 60 million followers on social media, hosted a live-streaming fitness session dressed as the superhero Aquaman which attracted more than 100,000 viewers.