A Chinese influencer has died after her ex-husband allegedly doused her in petrol and set her alight while she was livestreaming, according to local media reports. The victim, known as Lamu, was a popular content creator on Douyin, China's version of TikTok, where she had hundreds of thousands of followers.
The 30-year-old from Sichuan province suffered burns to 90% of her body and died two weeks after the attack on 14 September. Her ex-husband, identified only by his surname Tang, reportedly broke into her home armed with a knife and petrol, causing her screen to go black shortly after she began her livestream.
Lamu's family appealed for financial help, raising over one million yuan (£114,280) in 24 hours. According to reports, Tang had a history of domestic violence. Lamu's brother-in-law said she had been frequently beaten by Tang. The couple divorced in May, with each gaining custody of one child, but Tang allegedly threatened to kill one child if she did not remarry him. She briefly remarried him but fled, and after further abuse, she divorced him again, and he gained custody of both children.
Police detained Tang on 14 September on suspicion of intentional homicide, and an investigation is ongoing. The case has sparked widespread discussion on Chinese social media, with over 70 million people using a hashtag about her death. Many users criticised police for failing to act on earlier reports of domestic violence.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns about domestic violence in China. Earlier this year, a woman who jumped from a window to escape her abusive husband faced initial court refusal for divorce despite CCTV evidence. China's new 30-day 'cool-off' period for divorces, effective from 2021, has raised fears that victims of abuse may be coerced during that time, though it is not applicable to families with a history of domestic violence.
