Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
The 17-year-olds posted a video of their actions online.
The 17-year-olds posted a video of their actions online.
What is happening?
Two 17-year-old boys in Shanghai have been hit with a massive 2.2 million yuan ($309,000) bill after urinating into a pot of broth at a Haidilao hotpot restaurant, BBC reports.
The stunt, filmed and shared online, quickly drew national outrage and legal consequences.
Viral prank sparks public backlash
The incident occurred in February when the teenagers, reportedly drunk, filmed themselves urinating into the hotpot broth. The video went viral, prompting fierce criticism from the public.
Although no diners were confirmed to have consumed the tainted broth, the reputational damage to the restaurant was severe.
Haidilao moves quickly to contain fallout
In an effort to reassure customers, Haidilao offered full refunds and generous compensation to over 4,000 diners who visited the branch between February 24 and March 8.
The restaurant also replaced all hotpot equipment and carried out extensive cleaning and disinfection.
Sought over $3,23 million in damages
In March, Haidilao filed a legal claim for more than 23 million yuan ($3.23 million), citing financial losses tied to customer compensation, equipment replacement, and reputational harm.
The company argued that the teens’ actions had far-reaching business consequences.
Teens violated property and reputation rights, court finds
A Shanghai court ruled that the teenagers’ actions constituted an infringement on the restaurant’s property rights and public image.
Their behavior was labeled as an “act of insult” that caused widespread discomfort and contamination of restaurant materials.
Parents held financially responsible
The court also found fault with the teenagers’ parents, stating they had failed in their duty to properly supervise their children.
As a result, the court ordered the parents to bear the full financial burden of the compensation.
Breakdown of the $300,000 penalty
Of the total amount, nearly $281,000 was awarded for damage to Haidilao’s operations and reputation.
An additional $18,260 went toward losses in tableware and cleaning costs for a catering partner, while nearly $10,000 covered legal fees.
Compensation beyond the bill deemed voluntary
Interestingly, the court clarified that any extra compensation Haidilao offered to customers—beyond what they were billed—was a business decision.
This meant the teens weren’t liable for those additional payouts.
Haidilao’s image at stake
Known for exceptional customer service, Haidilao is famous for offering perks like manicures for women and candy floss for children.
Maintaining its family-friendly image has been key to its rapid global expansion, making this scandal especially damaging.
The Age of Online Pranks
The case serves as a stark warning about the real-world consequences of online “pranks,” especially when they involve public health or safety.
What the teens likely saw as a joke ended up costing hundreds of thousands and tarnishing reputations.
This article is made and published by Jens Asbjørn Bogen, which may have used AI in the preparation
