China’s ‘Kim Kardashian’ Influencer Banned from Social Media Over Wealth Flaunting

An influencer dubbed ‘China’s Kim Kardashian’ for his extravagant lifestyle has been banned from Chinese social media platforms for flaunting his wealth and luxury.

Wang Haongquanxing is among several Chinese social media stars who have disappeared from online platforms as China’s government intensifies efforts to curb ‘excessive wealth flaunting’ in its bid to maintain control over the country’s social media landscape.

Chinese influencer nicknamed ‘China’s Kim Kardashian’ Wang Haongquanxing has been banned from social media for showing off his opulent lifestyle.

Wang, along with other influencers known for showcasing their lavish lifestyles, faced bans from various Chinese social media platforms last week following the announcement of a crackdown by the Cyberspace Administration of China against ‘ostentatious personas’ last month.

The social media star has been known to brag about his wealth, claiming he owns seven homes and won’t leave the house in outfits that cost less than US$1.4 million.

With approximately 4.3 million followers on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, Wang frequently boasted about his wealth through posts featuring designer clothing, accessories, and appearances at luxury fashion events.

Wang Haongquanxing is not the only Chinese influencer banned from the internet for bragging about their wealth

In one interview, Wang claimed he never leaves home unless clad in outfits and jewellery worth at least 10 million yuan (US$1.4 million). He has also shared content flaunting his abundance of diamonds and seven homes in Beijing’s upscale Star River complex.

The social media ban comes as the Chinese regulator aims to weed out ‘ostentation and materialism’.

Wang initially gained fame in 2022 with a viral video of himself asking his mother for money while lying on all fours.

Another influencer affected by China’s wealth crackdown is Sister Abalone, a wealthy socialite from Guangdong Province known for showcasing her mansion on Douyin. Several of China’s social media platforms, including Tencent, Douyin, Weibo, and Xiaohongshu, have supported the internet watchdog’s efforts to address concerns over excessive flaunting of wealth.

Weibo, in a statement on May 15, reiterated its commitment to fostering a ‘civilized, healthy, and harmonious’ online environment and announced the removal of 1,100 posts flaunting wealth. This crackdown on influencers is not the first by China; in 2021, the ‘queen of live streaming,’ Viya, was fined £160 million for tax evasion, part of Beijing’s broader efforts to regulate celebrity culture. Viya’s accounts on Weibo, Taobao Live, and Douyin were offline.