Ghost-hunting influencer Jiang Xiaorou, 24, died on 10 August, nearly a month after suffering severe injuries in a car crash in southern China. The crash occurred on 15 July while she was a passenger in a rideshare vehicle heading from Guangxi to Guangzhou.
Viral statue smashing
Jiang, who had 1.3 million online followers, gained attention in August 2025 for a viral video in which she smashed a statue of Guanyin, the Chinese Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, as part of an "anti-superstition" challenge. She swung a hammer at the figure and taunted fans to see if a curse would strike.
The video drew angry comments at the time, with critics calling it deeply disrespectful, while many followers cheered the act. Following the crash, the clip has flooded social media again.
Medical battle and death
After the crash, Jiang, originally from a rural village in Hunan province, suffered massive trauma, heavy blood loss, organ failure and severe brain damage. She was rushed to Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital and placed on a ventilator, remaining in a coma as doctors fought to save her life.
Community leaders from her hometown officially verified her death on 10 August. Her family issued a statement on 11 August asking people to stop speculating about her online content and to let her rest quietly.
Karma claims and investigation
Some online users have linked the fatal crash to the smashed statue, calling it karma. An investigation into the fatal road accident is ongoing.
Separately, the news comes after Mexican influencer César Gastélum, known online as Compasexor, was shot dead while livestreaming outside a KFC. The killing is part of ongoing turf wars between rival organised crime groups.
