China’s Weibo Shuts Accounts Defending Kris Wu Allegations

Kris Wu. (Reuters)
Kris Wu. (Reuters)
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China’s Weibo Shuts Accounts Defending Kris Wu Allegations

Kris Wu. (Reuters)
Kris Wu. (Reuters)

China’s microblogging platform Sina Weibo on Monday closed 145 accounts, some of which had defended pop star Kris Wu over his rape allegations, for publishing what it called “information harmful for maintaining social order.”

Wu, a Chinese-Canadian pop star, was detained on July 31 for “deceiving young women multiple times into having sexual relations” with him, according to Beijing police. His arrest came after several women said they were plied with alcohol and then either pressured to have sex with him or sexually assaulted.

Some of the Weibo accounts which were shut down had previously defended such allegations against Wu, according to state-run media outlet Global Times.

It was not immediately clear how many of the 145 accounts were shut down for defending Wu. Several other celebrities, such as debater and media personality Ma Weiwei, also had their accounts suspended after they defended earlier allegations against Wu in 2016, and have since apologized for their actions, according to the Global Times.

Weibo, often described as China’s Twitter, said in a post published Monday that the 145 accounts were shut down for publishing harmful information related to current affairs, defined as anything from “spreading rumors, disrupting state order and undermining social stability” to “publishing negative information that breaks the bottom line of social morality and the system.”

The shutdown of Weibo accounts highlights how internet and social media platforms are required to strictly comply with content guidelines and censorship rules in China, where authorities dictate what can or cannot be published online.

Authorities in China are quick to censor keywords and search terms deemed politically sensitive or harmful to society, and internet platforms are expected to comply according to the law.

Certain search terms, such as the names of Chinese artist-activist Ai Weiwei or late Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, turn up no results when searched on platforms like Weibo.

The shutdown of accounts also come at a time when the Chinese government has tightened its grip over the internet and technology sector.

In recent months, authorities have implemented anti-monopoly rules and data privacy laws to curb unfair market practices and prevent companies from unfairly collecting and profiting off users’ data.



Marvel’s $80 Popcorn Bucket Sets World Record in Los Angeles 

A Marvel’s Fantastic Four Galactus Popcorn Bucket is displayed during a showing of "Fantastic Four: First Steps" movie at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, on July 24, 2025. (AFP)
A Marvel’s Fantastic Four Galactus Popcorn Bucket is displayed during a showing of "Fantastic Four: First Steps" movie at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, on July 24, 2025. (AFP)
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Marvel’s $80 Popcorn Bucket Sets World Record in Los Angeles 

A Marvel’s Fantastic Four Galactus Popcorn Bucket is displayed during a showing of "Fantastic Four: First Steps" movie at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, on July 24, 2025. (AFP)
A Marvel’s Fantastic Four Galactus Popcorn Bucket is displayed during a showing of "Fantastic Four: First Steps" movie at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, on July 24, 2025. (AFP)

A colossal $80 popcorn container shaped like Marvel's planet-devouring villain Galactus is offering a unique twist on movie snacks.

During its unveiling in Los Angeles, the container drew excited fans to the TCL Chinese Theatre and set a Guinness World Record.

The mammoth movie snack holder, tied to the upcoming "Fantastic Four: First Steps" film, measures 20 inches (51 cm) wide and 17.5 inches tall. It boasts a capacity of 341 ounces (10 liters) – enough to satisfy even Galactus' cosmic appetite.

Lacey Noel, a tour guide at the TCL Chinese Theatre, presented the bucket to eager onlookers. "It is $80 and people are currently eating it up," she said.

The Galactus container isn't just about size. It features a metallic finish and piercing bright blue LED eyes, adding to its appeal as a display piece long after the popcorn is gone. Fans lined up at the theater's concession stand, eager to get their hands on the limited-edition item.

This record-breaking popcorn bucket represents more than just a novel way to serve cinema snacks. It's part of a broader strategy by movie studios and theaters to lure audiences back to the big screen with exclusive, tangible experiences that can't be replicated at home.

Chris Banda, a fan who purchased the Galactus bucket, praised the initiative.

"I think these buckets are fantastic," he said. "I obviously wouldn't have got this if I didn't come to the theaters and I think it's designed very well and it's got a lot of popcorn, so cool."