Trending in Beijing: Kris Wu Detained, Magnum Controversy

The fun, the strange, and the what-on-earth-is-this? Trending in Beijing is a wrap-up of top stories in Beijing as told by the trending hashtags, local press, and general power of the internet.

No shackles can retain the Kris Wu controversy

As most of us know by now, the once-celebrated pop star and actor Kris Wu was officially detained by Beijing police on suspicion of rape charges earlier this week. Nevertheless, a pair of shackles won't be enough to restrain what's shaping up to be the year's biggest scandal.

Fans were infuriated to see Wu in shackles, but those seeking justice are pleased

Following Wu's removal from numerous social media platforms, an additional 990 Weibo accounts were muted or given a permanent ban by Aug 1 for spreading rumors, slandering the government, supporting Wu with malicious intent, or otherwise capitalizing on the controversy. Moreover, 108 related topics have been closed, and 789 related groups were dismissed for similar reasons. All of which is to say, the sheer magnitude of the bans are staggering and represent one of the largest of its kind since Weibo was established in 2009.

Fans are turned away after seeking confirmation of Wu's whereabouts

And yet, it still hasn't been enough to assuage the advocacy of Wu's most ardent fans. In fact, video footage has been circulating, allegedly showing some of Wu’s supporters visiting a police station in Chaoyang district and inquiring if the pop star was detained there, while others are attempting to contact the Canadian embassy or raise funds to bail Wu out of jail according to screenshots from various groups.

Perhaps most ironically, Du Meizhu, the victim who brought the allegations to light didn't even report Wu to the police. As it happens, it was Wu’s mother who called law enforcement, accusing Du of blackmailing her son, which ultimately landed him in jail.

Magnum ice cream caught in controversy after using different ingredients in China

Ever since its introduction to Chinese grocery stores in the 1990s, Magnum – the ice cream company, not the condom – has long been regarded as the finest ice cream you can find, which also meant it had a price tag to match. Recently, however, many customers were outraged when they learned that the ingredients in Magnum products that are sold in Chinese stores are different from those sold overseas.

The most significant difference is that Magnum uses plant oil, water, and milk powder to replace the milk used in its products outside of China. The undisclosed ingredient swap not only left many customers feeling betrayed, but it also aroused more questions around the safety of the product due to concerns over whether the vegetable oil used here is hydrogenated or not.

Despite the difference in flavors, the milk usually comes first in Magnum's ingredient list overseas while in China, water plays this dominant role

On Aug 1, Magnum responded, admitting to the use of vegetable oil in its products but also reiterating that the vegetable oil is not hydrogenated. Moreover, the company claimed that the new recipe is part of its efforts to be more environmentally friendly, followed by a plug for their new plant-based ice cream. Nevertheless, the announcement didn't do much for Magnum's image. For one thing, testing of Magnum's products by a third-party inspector revealed relatively high amounts of trans-fats compared to other brands. Perhaps more importantly though, Magnum's strategy of ostensibly taking the moral high ground to explain their treating customers differently basically only served to further piss off netizens. Incidentally, Magnum must have realized they misread the situation because that announcement has since been deleted, and no further response has been offered.

First Asian makes it to the final Men’s Athletics 100 Meters.

Despite being delayed a year, the Tokyo Olympics has been full of surprises over the past week. Competing under the banner "Higher, Faster, Stronger – Together," athletes from all around the world have continually impressed and inspired those of us outside the stadiums, with their humble yet valuable Olympic spirit amid the ongoing pandemic.

Among all those celebrated names smashing records, one individual who didn’t make it to the podium still found himself trending on social media both here and abroad. On Sunday, Su Bingtian became the first Asian in 89 years to compete in the 100 meters final and broke the continent's previous record when he clocked in at 9.827+0.9 during the semi-finals, second only to the North American record held by Usain Bolt. Unfortunately, Su couldn’t repeat the miracle during the final race some 80 mins later, but it's still a clear declaration to the world that we should never judge an athlete’s ability or potential by their age, figure, or race. If a 31-year-old vice professor standing 172 centimeters tall can make it to an Olympic final, then the rest of us have little excuse not to get to a gym. Likewise, the Olympic Games have once again proved invaluable, especially in a world of prejudice and conflict.

Images: CNN, Yahoo News, Weibo, Zhihu