A shocking viral video that left diners horrified has now resulted in a courtroom reckoning. Two teenagers accused of urinating into a communal hotpot at a popular restaurant — and filming the act for social media — have been sentenced after a judge condemned their stunt as “vile, degrading, and dangerous.” South China Morning Post reported that the pair, both 17, admitted to the act during hearings that drew national attention in China.
The video, which spread rapidly across Weibo and TikTok, showed one of the boys leaning over a steaming pot as the other laughed and filmed. The clip sparked outrage across the country, with furious users demanding harsh punishment. “They humiliated not just the restaurant, but every customer who eats there,” one commenter wrote in a thread that gained millions of views, according to BBC News.
In court, prosecutors argued that the prank endangered public health and caused severe reputational damage to the restaurant chain, which saw bookings plummet in the days after the footage went viral. The Guardian noted that the chain was forced to temporarily close several branches for deep cleaning, costing it hundreds of thousands in lost revenue.
Chinese teens sentenced after viral video showed them urinating into hotpot at restaurant. Court calls it “degrading and reckless.” — @ChannelNewsAsia
The teenagers told the court they were pressured by online clout-chasing and never expected the backlash to spiral. One defense lawyer said the boys were “immature and reckless” but insisted they had already suffered enough from public shaming. However, the judge disagreed, saying their actions had “crossed the line from childish mischief into criminality.” CNN confirmed the court sentenced both teens to six months in juvenile detention and ordered them to pay compensation to the restaurant.
Reactions have remained intense. Some applauded the ruling as a warning against viral stunts, while others argued the boys’ age should have been considered more leniently. The New York Times reported that parenting forums across China are now debating how to teach teenagers about digital responsibility in the age of livestreams and instant notoriety.
Restaurant management welcomed the verdict, saying it sends a clear message. “We want customers to know our brand stands for hygiene and respect,” a spokesperson told Reuters. “This was not just an insult to food — it was an insult to our entire culture of dining.”
Court says teens who peed in hotpot for clout caused “severe social harm.” Parents, beware what your kids are posting. — @SCMPNews
While the teenagers will serve their sentences in a juvenile facility, their reputations may take far longer to repair. Online, their names remain linked to the incident, and many predict the stigma will follow them into adulthood. For many in China, the case stands as a grim warning of what can happen when internet fame becomes more important than dignity, health, or basic decency.