Zhu Zhiwen, the former farmer turned singer popularly known as "Overcoat Brother", has won his criminal case against a long-term cyberbully. A court sentenced the defendant to six months in prison for insult and defamation.
Zhu expressed satisfaction with the verdict, stating the perpetrator is already in custody. However, he remains puzzled about the motive, noting the cyberbullying lasted over four years. "It's just not worth it for her. We had no deep grudges between us," Zhu told reporters.
Yang Anming, Zhu's lawyer, noted that the defendant pleaded guilty and accepted the punishment. He hopes the case serves as a warning. "We aim to adjudicate one case to educate a wider audience," Yang said, emphasizing that the internet is not a lawless space. He observed that since the case began, many have refrained from online abuse, with some even deleting previous offensive videos.
2月12日元宵节,朱之文在鄂尔多斯伊金霍洛旗的元宵节晚会唱歌。图源:新京报
The defendant, a middle-aged woman, was accused of posting approximately 290 malicious videos targeting Zhu since April 2020. Twenty-nine of these videos exceeded 5,000 views, with one reaching 210,000 plays. The content included false claims about Zhu's wealth, tax evasion, and personal life, alongside photos labeled with slurs like "hypocrite".
During the trial in February, the woman claimed her actions were a "spur-of-the-moment" impulse and apologized. Zhu found this explanation unacceptable. "How can harassing someone for four years be a spur-of-the-moment act?" he questioned. He had previously refused a pre-trial settlement because the woman never apologized to him directly.
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