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Sylvie Zhuang

A high profile defamation case filed by Zhu Jun, a prominent personality on Chinese state television, against Zhou Xiaoxuan, a leading feminist figure who had accused him of sexual harassment, has been dropped, likely putting an end to a lengthy legal battle in the country’s most famous #MeToo case.
Zhu, a CCTV host, had “voluntarily withdrawn” his case against Zhou and her supporters, in which he had accused them of damaging his reputation, Zhou’s lawyer said on Sunday in a post on a WeChat account dedicated to legal discussions.
Zhou confirmed with the Post on Monday that the case had been called off, adding that she had been informed by her legal team on Friday that the withdrawal had been approved by a court the day before.
Zhou said that they had not been told why Zhu dropped the case.
Court delays second hearing in landmark #MeToo case for China
Zhou said no settlement was made and no negotiation had taken place between the two sides.
“None at all. We have had no negotiations whatsoever with Zhu Jun,” she said.
Zhou, 30, also known as Xianzi, became a leading women’s rights advocate in China during her legal battle against Zhu. In 2014, she had reported to police that Zhu had forcibly kissed her when she had been interning at the broadcaster, but she said police had pressured her and her family to drop the case.
In 2018, Zhou began sharing her accusations publicly. Later that year, the television host launched a defamation case against Zhou, after the allegations received media attention. That case had been put on hold pending the result of a countersuit filed by Zhou soon after, in which she sought 50,000 yuan (US$6,850) in damages and demanded a public apology.
Responding to Zhu’s defamation case would have created a significant psychological and financial burden, said Zhou, who had endured two trials and a retrial application procedure in her pursuit of justice against Zhu, all of which were dismissed for “insufficient evidence”.
Her retrial application – a last resort in China’s civil litigation process – was turned down in May by a higher Beijing court, she said.
Five years on, has #MeToo hit a wall – or is deeper change possible?
The court also turned down Zhou’s requests to perform another DNA test on the skirt she wore when she was allegedly attacked by Zhu, as well as allowing security video into evidence of the time the alleged harassment had taken place.
“Deep down, I had hoped he would withdraw the lawsuit, because I feel very tired and do not have the energy to deal with this,” Zhou said, adding that the withdrawal of Zhu’s defamation suit was a “relief”.
The case became symbolic of China’s nascent #MeToo movement when it began, but it also shone a light on the difficulties faced by sexual harassment victims in China who seek justice.


“[My case against Zhu] showed how much evidence the victims in China’s sexual harassment cases need to provide, and how much burden of proof they have to bear,” she said.
The difficulty Zhou encountered in seeking justice, and the unresolved status of her case, raised questions about what sort of obstacles other alleged victims might face in China’s legal system in the future, she said.
‘Laws don’t support women’: China’s #MeToo accusers crushed by burden of proof
“If there is no judicial determination on the matter, do the victims have the right to speak out?”
Until Zhou’s allegations had made it to court, it had been rare for such sexual harassment cases to reach the trial stage.
China’s civil code expanded the definition of sexual harassment in 2020 and offered greater protection for victims, but few victims have had the courage to see their cases through a trial.


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Human rights in China

Chinese TV host accused in #MeToo scandal withdraws defamation suit against accuser

CCTV host Zhu Jun, who had been mired in a #MeToo sexual harassment scandal, has “voluntarily withdrawn” his defamation suit against his accuser. Photo: Wikipedia

Chinese TV host accused in #MeToo scandal trumpets return to state broadcaster

Prominent anchor Zhu Jun is trending on Chinese social media after announcing that he will resume work at state broadcaster CCTV. Photo: Reuters

Zhou Xiaoxuan, also known as Xianzi, became a feminist figure in China after making sexual harassment allegations against Zhu. Photo: AFP

#MeToo in China: court rejects appeal in landmark sexual harassment case

Zhou Xiaoxuan arrives to attend a hearing in her sexual harassment case against prominent state television host Zhu Jun at the Beijing No 1 Intermediate People’s Court on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

Police cordoned off areas outside the court ahead of Zhou Xiaoxuan’s arrival on Wednesday afternoon, and officers logged details of passers-by. Photo: AP

News

China

Politics

CCTV’s Zhu Jun withdraws case against former intern after 5-year legal battle over alleged sexual harassment
Landmark case fuelled China’s #MeToo movement and turned accuser Zhou Xiaoxuan into a symbol of feminism in China


Zhu Jun withdraws case against former intern after 5-year legal battle over alleged sexual harassment.


Gender

Women and gender