‘Did anyone call the police?’: actions of parents in China who tied ‘naughty’ son to pillar in food court while eating divides online opinion
- Man who filmed incident says fellow diners laughed and filmed helpless boy
- Many on mainland social media condemn father and mother for cruel and abusive parenting
A news story in China about a couple who tied their misbehaving son to a pillar in a food court while they ate has sparked a fresh public debate about harsh parenting.
The unidentified couple from Zhejiang province in eastern China were filmed disciplining their young son for running around and making noise while eating at a BBQ restaurant in a local food court, Yueniu News reported.
Another diner, surnamed Zhang, took the video on August 19, in which the father can be seen tying his son to the pillar using tape.
The couple then filmed their son with smartphones as he struggled against the tape and tried to free himself.
Zhang said the food court was busy with people during the evening rush, many of whom were laughing and taking video of the helpless boy.
“I think it was very funny,” Zhang told Yueniu News.
However, the video has divided opinion on mainland social media, where it received more than 12,000 comments on Douyin.
Many online commenters criticised the couple’s approach to parenting.