Chinese netizens mourn death of gamer ‘Fat Cat’
By Ryan General
The suicide of a young Chinese gamer, known online as “Fat Cat,” has triggered an outpouring of grief and anger among netizens.
Key points:
- Liu Jie, 20, took his own life last month after a breakup with his online girlfriend, Tan Zhu.
- Liu’s family revealed chat records and money transfer proofs showing his financial sacrifices and his girlfriend’s demands.
- Netizens recently gathered at the site of Liu’s death to pay their respects.
- Tan has received criticism on social media for her role in the tragedy.
The details:
- Liu earned his living through “game boosting,” which entails playing video games on behalf of others.
- Liu reportedly met Tan through the mobile game “Honor of Kings” in 2022 before they met in person in late 2023. He reportedly lived frugally to support his girlfriend’s financial needs and business dreams.
- While Tan promised to marry Liu by the end of 2024, she broke up with him in April, stating he could not provide her with emotional value.
- In a bid to win her back, Liu traveled to Chongqing from central Hunan province and asked her to live with him. When she declined, he reportedly transferred 66,000 yuan ($1,147) to her account.
- Liu then jumped to his death off the Shibanpo Yangtze River Bridge in Chongqing on April 11. His body was found 12 days later.
- Liu’s sister claims her brother transferred a total of 510,000 yuan ($70,635) to Tan over the course of their two-year relationship.
- Tan apologized online for her role in Liu’s death but has been accused of lacking sincerity.
- After details of his suicide emerged, netizens started sending food and flowers to the bridge where Liu died.
Tangent:
- Liu’s suicide has drawn comparisons to the 2017 suicide of WePhone founder Su Xiangmao, who also took his own life after alleged extortion by his ex-wife.
What’s next:
- The Hunan police are investigating Tan’s actions to determine if they constitute a scam.
If you or anyone you know is at risk of self-harm, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24-hour support at 1-800-273-8255.
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