The Danger of Being a Female Livestreamer in China

A Chinese livestreamer known as Sisi suffered burns to her face, neck and arms when a package left outside her flat in Yongzhou exploded as she picked it up on 15 October 2025. Her young daughter, who was with her, escaped serious injury. Police arrested a former viewer, Liu Mouqiang, later that day. Prosecutors allege that the package was the last of four attacks he carried out against Sisi after she repeatedly rejected his advances. Liu has denied that account of their relationship, describing the case at trial as a personal dispute.

Sisi said Liu had pursued her online and found places connected to her broadcasts. She returned the money she had received from his virtual gifts and brought a civil harassment case against him. A court-mediated settlement required him to remove defamatory material, apologise and pay compensation, but reporting on the investigation says the mediation papers also disclosed her home address. Prosecutors charged Liu in March 2026 with endangering public safety; his trial opened in June, with a verdict to follow. The case raises questions about how livestreamers’ visibility, paid interactions with viewers and the handling of personal details can expose them to harassment beyond the screen.