Chinese Influencer “Rural Brother Cheng” Faces Investigation Over Viral Claims of Multiple Disabled Wives, Sparking Debate on Disability Rights and Platform Ethics.

The rumors first emerged on August 3, when a handful of Cheng‑related posts on Weibo and Douyin suggested that the 28‑year‑old farmer‑turned‑influencer had taken three intellectually disabled women as wives, produced six children, and was allegedly exploiting the family’s disability benefits for “traffic‑driven” profit. Some commenters amplified the story with accusations of “近亲生子” – a term that in Chinese internet slang has come to signify in‑breeding or the illegal breeding of closely related individuals. A separate, unrelated case – a 55‑year‑old man in Zhumadian, Henan who reportedly married an intellectually disabled girl – was also referenced, adding to a sense that the episode was part of a broader pattern of alleged abuse in rural China.

Within days, Douyin’s moderation team issued a public statement. The platform said it had investigated the “rural Cheng” account and a linked channel called “Winter Girl’s Rural Life” (冬妹的农村生活), confirming that the claims of “three disabled wives” were unsubstantiated. Douyin also noted that a fake account had posted false accusations of child abuse; that account was permanently banned, and Cheng’s main profile was placed under a traffic‑restriction, a measure that reduces the reach of a user’s videos while the issue is examined.

Local officials in Wugang City, Shaoyang prefecture in Hunan province – Cheng’s hometown – responded in kind. On August 7, the city’s Women’s Federation announced that they were coordinating with the public security bureau and civil affairs office to verify the details. A spokesperson said that “relevant departments are mobilising personnel to confirm the marriage status, the legal standing of any children, and the use of disability benefits.” By August 19, the civil affairs office released a brief that confirmed Cheng had indeed entered into two legal marriages, both registered with the local marriage registration center. The claim that he had three wives, as originally reported by online users, was deemed “false”.

The final piece of the puzzle arrived on August 25, when the Wugang city government posted the official investigation results. According to the report, both of Cheng’s marriages – each to a woman who receives a government disability allowance due to severe intellectual impairment – were legal according to Chinese marriage law, which permits persons with disabilities to marry when they are deemed capable of giving informed consent. The report also clarified that the family receives standard disability subsidies, but there was no evidence of fraud or misuse of public funds. The investigation concluded that no criminal wrongdoing had been identified.

Even as officials closed the case, public reaction remained sharply divided. On Weibo, the hashtag #RuralBrotherCheng trended for several days, drawing more than a million mentions. Many users expressed outrage, describing the situation as an “exploitation of vulnerable women for clicks” and questioning how disabled individuals could consent to marriage and childbearing under such circumstances. Comments such as “禁 止娱乐化这个话题很恐怖啊” (“It’s terrifying to sensationalise this topic”) and “男网红娶残障老婆背后可能隐藏流量炒作” (“A male influencer marrying disabled wives may hide traffic‑hype motives”) captured the moral alarm that resonated across the platform.

The controversy also ignited a broader conversation about the welfare of disabled people in China’s rural hinterland. Social media users lamented that, in the absence of robust social safety nets, marriage can become the only viable avenue for disabled women to secure shelter, food and a modicum of economic stability. One commentator wrote, “在没有可靠的社会救济途径之前，只能如此了” (“Before reliable social relief exists, this is the only way”), highlighting systemic gaps that force vulnerable families into precarious arrangements. Critics warned that the proliferation of “poverty porn” – content that commodifies hardship for viewer engagement – may incentivise creators to showcase the lives of disabled individuals without adequate safeguards or consent.

From an industry perspective, Douyin’s intervention signalled a growing willingness among Chinese platforms to police content that skirts ethical boundaries. The platform’s decision to limit Cheng’s visibility, ban a fake account, and issue a public clarification aligns with Beijing’s broader push for a “cleaner” internet and stricter regulation of online influencers. Observers note that while prior incidents involving “beauty” or “luxury” influencers have been met with relatively light‑touch responses, cases that touch on disability, child welfare or potential exploitation are prompting more decisive action. The Cheng episode may serve as a precedent for future enforcement, particularly concerning “vulnerable‑group” content.

Nevertheless, many netizens remain skeptical of the official narrative. Some point out that even if Cheng’s marriages are legally valid, the underlying power imbalance – a young, physically able man paired with two women described as having “severe intellectual disabilities” – raises questions about genuine consent. Others underscore the plight of the children, several of whom appear to have physical or cognitive impairments, asking why families would knowingly bring new lives into an environment with limited medical and social support. “严重残疾明知道孩子生出来不健康为什么还要生?” – “Why have children when you know they’ll be seriously disabled?” – read one particularly anguished post.

The case also casts a stark light on China’s disability policies. While the government provides monetary allowances, medical care and occasional vocational training, the Cheng story suggests that these benefits may be insufficient in rural settings where poverty, limited infrastructure and cultural stigma compound hardship. The public’s call for “deeper, more meticulous investigation” reflects a yearning for accountability not only for individual actors but also for the systemic conditions that allow such stories to emerge and go viral.

In sum, the investigation into “Rural Brother Cheng” concluded that his two marriages are lawful and that the sensational claim of three disabled wives was unfounded. Yet the episode has left an indelible imprint on the discourse surrounding disability rights, internet celebrity culture, and the responsibilities of both platforms and the state in protecting vulnerable populations. As Chinese authorities tighten regulations on online content and as social media users continue to scrutinise the ethics of digital fame, the Cheng saga stands as a reminder that legality does not always equate to moral acceptability, especially when the lives of disabled individuals and their children are at stake.