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China Memes & Viral

“Unrestrained” and “Fearless”: Chinese Messi Fan’s Pitch Invasion Ignites Memes and Admiration

The Messi fan who stormed onto the field and embraced his idol has become famous overnight. Here are eight popular memes circulating around Chinese social media.

Zilan Qian

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On June 15th, a young Chinese fan of the immensely popular Argentine professional footballer Lionel Messi made his way into the friendly Argentina vs. Australia match held at Beijing’s Workers’ Stadium.

The match and Messi’s arrival were much-anticipated in China, where the football star is incredibly popular.

After the sudden pitch invasion, the fan proceeded to embrace Messi, exchanged handshakes with footballer Marcos Javier Acuña, and shared a high-five with Lisandro Martínez before security intervened and brought him down.

The incident quickly spread like wildfire across Chinese social media, generating memes that playfully mocked both the fan and the guards at Workers’ Stadium. Although he was later apprehended, the fan garnered admiration from netizens for his “courageous act.” While the Messi fan is praised for being “unrestrained” and “fearless,” various gifs of the moment went trending.

Video footage showed how the fan jumped from the spectator stand, which was approximately 3 meters high, and then swiftly made his way onto the field.

He embraced Messi, who, initially taken aback, soon extended his arms and reciprocated the hug.

Viral footage shows how three security guards chased the young man. However, with remarkable agility, the fan managed to elude their grasp. Along the way, he seized the opportunity to shake hands and exchange high-fives with Argentina’s player Acuña and goalkeeper Martinez.

After a sprint spanning several dozen meters, multiple security guards eventually intercepted and escorted him out of the stadium. This unexpected field invasion led to a game interruption that lasted for over a minute.

In an official statement by the Chaoyang Public Security Bureau, the man was identified as the 18-year-old Mr. Di (邸) who had jumped on the field to “hug his favorite player.” He was placed in “administrative detention” (行政拘留) and was ordered not to enter the stadium again for a period of 12 months (#冲进球场抱梅西男子被行拘#).

Despite Mr. Di’s (temporary) detainment, his actions have ignited a sense of thrill among netizens. While some express concerns about his breach of public order and the law, the majority celebrate his defiance, bravery, and youthful spirit. Numerous netizens have even dubbed him the “life winner” (“人生赢家”), congratulating him and expressing envy for seizing such a precious moment that can be cherished for a lifetime. “He’s incredibly cool and courageous!” a typical comment said.

Meanwhile, memes swiftly emerged in response to this bold moment. Netizens took the opportunity to not only jest about Di but also the security guards. Despite having seven to eight colleagues chasing after Di on the field, they were unable to apprehend him before he accomplished virtually everything he set out to do.

We will list some of the most popular memes related to the incident here.

 

1. “You’re chasing your idol” meme

“The most amusing part was observing the trio of men in pursuit of Di. It almost seemed like they were playing a part rather than genuinely trying to catch him,” commented a Weibo user, suggesting that the security guards intentionally failed to apprehend Di.

Netizens humorously pointed out instances where the security guards appeared distracted during the chase. One guard, who turned his head to gaze at Messi while running, received comments from netizens such as, “No wonder you couldn’t catch Di, you were busy chasing your idols instead.”

“No wonder you can’t chase him, you’re chasing your idol instead” meme shared by Weibo user @你的小鱼干爸爸.

 

2. “If we don’t catch him, we can keep on running” meme

The remaining two guards, who wore constant smiles during the pursuit, were observed as if they were putting on a show rather than earnestly attempting to capture Di.

There were even speculations that the security guards intentionally held back their full efforts due to their own fandom for Messi, hoping to prolong their proximity to their idol for as long as possible.

One Weibo user (@你的小鱼干爸爸) created yet another humorous meme about two security guards purposely refraining from apprehending Di. The comments attributed to the guards read, “If we don’t catch him, we can keep running,” and “Do you think the three of us are good actors?” Mr. Di’s response in the meme is, “You two stick by my side. I’ll lend you a hand in flying.”

 

3. “We’re all family” meme

Another popular meme showed a security guard at the stadium, wearing Messi’s blue-and-white soccer shirt underneath his uniform.

The comment reads “we are all family,” implying that the security guards are also big fans of Messi, like Mr. Di.

 

4. Dragged away like a pig meme

Netizens made fun of the moment Di was carried away – a big smile on his face – by comparing it to the image of a pig being dragged by multiple people.

 

5. Taobao sellers jump in on the hype

Meanwhile, e-commerce platforms are also capitalizing on this trending topic. The shoes worn by Di, a pair of Yonex badminton shoes, have garnered significant attention. On Taobao, the product has been cleverly marketed as “Messi fan’s signature style” badminton shoes, featuring background images of Di embracing Messi.

 

6. A scientific approach

Some science-related WeChat accounts are also using this incident to educate people on proper exercise. The public health account Dingxiang Doctor (丁香医生) released an article titled “A Fan Rushes onto the Field to Embrace Messi: Regretting the Lack of Warm-up (Let Us Teach You)” to underscore the importance of warming up before physical activity.

Likewise, the popular science blogger Bi Dao (毕导) published an article exploring Di’s average running speed throughout the entire incident and arrived at an average of 6.4 meters per second.

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7. A new idol meme

Another meme that is making its rounds on Chinese social media is a photoshopped image of Messi holding an image of him and Di’s unexpected meeting on the field. As Di has become so famous overnight, he has practically become an idol himself.

 

8. The ‘main character’ meme

Numerous Chinese social media users perceive the young man as a symbol of freedom and defiance, sentiments that have been suppressed by the burdensome work culture, economic crisis, COVID-19 restrictions, and political censorship. In response, certain memes depict Di as the protagonist of his own heroic film.

“We yearn for a moment of rule-breaking and liberation from the pressures to wholeheartedly enjoy ourselves,” expressed a widely shared commentary on WeChat. “This young man has fulfilled that desire on our behalf.”

By Zilan Qian, with contributions by Manya Koetse

Image: illustration used shared on Weibo by user @中国刘杰, signed by “D.S.X”

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©2023 Whatsonweibo. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce our content without permission – you can contact us at info@whatsonweibo.com.

Zilan Qian is a China-born undergraduate student at Barnard College majoring in Anthropology. She is interested in exploring different cultural phenomena, loves people-watching, and likes loitering in supermarkets and museums.

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China Brands, Marketing & Consumers

Zara Dress Goes Viral in China for Resemblance to Haidilao Apron

Who’s gonna buy this Zara dress in China? “I’m afraid that someone will say I stole the apron from Haidilao.”

Manya Koetse

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A short dress sold by Zara has gone viral in China for looking like the aprons used by the popular Chinese hotpot chain Haidilao.

“I really thought it was a Zara x Haidialo collab,” some customers commented. Others also agree that the first thing they thought about when seeing the Zara dress was the Haidilao apron.

The “original” vs the Zara dress.

The dress has become a popular topic on Xiaohongshu and other social media, where some images show the dress with the Haidilao logo photoshopped on it to emphasize the similarity.

One post on Xiaohongshu discussing the dress, with the caption “Curious about the inspiration behind Zara’s design,” garnered over 28,000 replies.

Haidilao, with its numerous restaurants across China, is renowned for its hospitality and exceptional customer service. Anyone who has ever dined at their restaurants is familiar with the Haidilao apron provided to diners for protecting their clothes from food or oil stains while enjoying hotpot.

These aprons are meant for use during the meal and should be returned to the staff afterward, rather than taken home.

The Haidilao apron.

However, many people who have dined at Haidilao may have encountered the following scenario: after indulging in drinks and hotpot, they realize they are still wearing a Haidilao apron upon leaving the restaurant. Consequently, many hotpot enthusiasts may have an ‘accidental’ Haidilao apron tucked away at home somewhere.

This only adds to the humor of the latest Zara dress looking like the apron. The similarity between the Zara dress and the Haidilao apron is actually so striking, that some people are afraid to be accused of being a thief if they would wear it.

One Weibo commenter wrote: “The most confusing item of this season from Zara has come out. It’s like a Zara x Haidilao collaboration apron… This… I can’t wear it: I’m afraid that someone will say I stole the apron from Haidilao.”

Funnily enough, the Haidilao apron similarity seems to have set off a trend of girls trying on the Zara dress and posting photos of themselves wearing it.

It’s doubtful that they’re actually purchasing the dress. Although some commenters say the dress is not bad, most people associate it too closely with the Haidilao brand: it just makes them hungry for hotpot.

By Manya Koetse

Independently reporting China trends for over a decade. Like what we do? Support us and get the story behind the hashtag by subscribing:

Spotted a mistake or want to add something? Please let us know in comments below or email us. First-time commenters, please be patient – we will have to manually approve your comment before it appears.

©2024 Whatsonweibo. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce our content without permission – you can contact us at info@whatsonweibo.com.

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China Memes & Viral

Chengdu Disney: The Quirkiest Hotspot in China

How a senior activity park in Chengdu was ‘Disneyfied’ and became a viral hotspot.

Manya Koetse

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How did a common park turn into a buzzing hotspot? By mixing online trends with real-life fun, blending foreign styles with local charm, and adding a dash of humor and absurdity, Chengdu now boasts its very own ‘Chengdu Disney’. We explain the trend.

By Manya Koetse, co-authored by Ruixin Zhang

Have you heard about Chengdu Disney yet? If not, it’s probably unlike anything you’d imagine. It’s not actually a Disney theme park opening up in Chengdu, but it’s one of the city’s most viral hotspots these days.

What is now known as ‘Chengdu Disney’ all over the Chinese internet is actually a small outdoor park in a residential area in Chengdu’s Yulin area, which also serves as the local senior fitness activity center.

Crowds of young people are coming to this area to take photos and videos, hang out, sing songs, cosplay, and be part of China’s internet culture in an offline setting.

 
Once Upon a Rap Talent Show
 

The roots of ‘Chengdu Disney’ can be traced back to the Chinese hip-hop talent show The Rap of China (中国新说唱), where a performer named Nuomi (诺米), also known as Lodmemo, was eliminated by Chinese rapper Boss Shady (谢帝 Xièdì), one of the judges on the show.

Nuomi felt upset about the elimination and a comment made by his idol mentor, who mistakenly referred to a song Nuomi made for his ‘grandma’ instead of his grandfather. His frustration led to a viral livestream where he expressed his anger towards his participation in The Rap of China and Boss Shady.

However, it wasn’t only his anger that caught attention; it was his exaggerated way of speaking and mannerisms. Nuomi, with his Sichuan accent, repeatedly inserted English phrases like “y’know what I’m saying” and gestured as if throwing punches.

His oversized silver chain, sagging pants, and urban streetwear only reinforce the idea that Nuomi is trying a bit too hard to emulate the fashion style of American rappers from the early 2000s, complete with swagger and street credibility.

Lodmemo emulates the style of American rappers in the early 2000s, and he has made it his brand.

Although people mocked him for his wannabe ‘gangsta’ style, Nuomi embraced the teasing and turned it into an opportunity for fame.

He decided to create a diss track titled Xiè Tiān Xièdì 谢天谢帝, “Thank Heaven, Thank Emperor,” a word joke on Boss Shady’s name, which sounds like “Shady” but literally means ‘Thank the Emperor’ in Chinese. A diss track is a hip hop or rap song intended to mock someone else, usually a fellow musician.

In the song, when Nuomi disses Boss Shady (谢帝 Xièdì), he raps in Sichuan accent: “Xièdì Xièdì wǒ yào diss nǐ [谢帝谢帝我要diss你].” The last two words, namely “diss nǐ” actually means “to diss you” but sounds exactly like the Chinese word for ‘Disney’: Díshìní (迪士尼). This was soon picked up by netizens, who found humor in the similarity; it sounded as if the ‘tough’ rapper Nuomi was singing about wanting to go to Disney.

Nuomi and his diss track, from the music video.

Nuomi filmed the music video for this diss track at a senior activity park in Chengdu’s Yulin subdistrict. The music video went viral in late March, and led to the park being nicknamed the ‘Chengdu Disney.’

The particular exercise machine on which Nuomi performed his rap quickly became an iconic landmark on Douyin, as everyone eagerly sought to visit, sit on the same see-saw-style exercise machine, and repeat the phrase, mimicking the viral video.

What began as a homonym led to people ‘Disneyfying’ the park itself, with crowds of visitors flocking to the park, some dressed in Disney-related costumes.

This further developed the concept of a Chengdu ‘Disney’ destination, turning the park playground into the happiest place in Yulin.

 
Chengdu: China’s Most Relaxed Hip Hop Hotspot
 

Chengdu holds a special place in China’s underground hip-hop scene, thanks to its vibrant music culture and the presence of many renowned Chinese hip-hop artists who incorporate the Sichuan dialect into their songs and raps.

This is one reason why this ‘Disney’ meme happened in Chengdu and not in any other Chinese city. But beyond its musical significance, the playful spirit of the meme also aligns with Chengdu’s reputation for being an incredibly laid-back city.

In recent years, the pursuit of a certain “relaxed feeling” (sōngchígǎn 松弛感) has gained popularity across the Chinese internet. Sōngchígǎn is a combination of the word for “relaxed,” “loose” or “lax” (松弛) and the word for “feeling” (感). Initially used to describe a particular female aesthetic, the term evolved to represent a lifestyle where individuals strive to maintain a relaxed demeanor, especially in the face of stressful situations.

 

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The concept gained traction online in mid-2022 when a Weibo user shared a story of a family remaining composed when their travel plans were unexpectedly disrupted due to passport issues. Their calm and collected response inspired the adoption of the “relaxed feeling” term (also read here).

Central to embodying this sense of relaxation is being unfazed by others’ opinions and avoiding unnecessary stress or haste out of fear of judgment.

Nowadays, Chinese cities aim to foster this sense of sōngchígǎn. Not too long ago, there were many hot topics suggesting that Chengdu is the most sōngchí 松弛, the most relaxed city in China.

This sentiment is reflected in the ‘Chengdu Disney’ trend, which both pokes fun at a certain hip-hop aesthetic deemed overly relaxed—like the guys who showed up with sagging pants—and embraces a carefree, childlike silliness that resonates with the city’s character and its people.

Mocking sagging pants at ‘Chengdu Disney.’

Despite the influx of visitors to the Chengdu Disney area, authorities have not yet significantly intervened. Community notices urging respect for nearby residents and the presence of police officers to maintain order indicate a relatively hands-off approach. For now, it seems most people are simply enjoying the relaxed atmosphere.

 
Being Part of the Meme
 

An important aspect that contributes to the appeal of Chengdu Disney is its nature as an online meme, allowing people to actively participate in it.

Scenes from Chengdu Disney, images via Weibo.

China has a very strong meme culture. Although there are all kinds of memes, from visual to verbal, many Chinese memes incorporate wordplay. In part, this has to do with the nature of Chinese language, as it offers various opportunities for puns, homophones, and linguistic creativity thanks to its tones and characters.

The use of homophones on Chinese social media is as old as Chinese social media itself. One of the most famous examples is the phrase ‘cǎo ní mǎ’ (草泥马), which literally means ‘grass mud horse’, but is pronounced in the same way as the vulgar “f*ck your mother” (which is written with three different characters).

In the case of the Chengdu Disney trend, it combines a verbal meme—stemming from the ‘diss nǐ’ / Díshìní homophone—and a visual meme, where people gather to pose for videos/photos in the same location, repeating the same phrase.

Moreover, the trend bridges the gap between the online and offline worlds, as people come together at the Chengdu playground, forming a tangible community through digital culture.

The fact that this is happening at a residential exercise park for the elderly adds to the humor: it’s a Chengdu take on what “urban” truly means. These colorful exercise machines are a common sight in Chinese parks nationwide and are actually very mundane. Transforming something so normal into something extraordinary is part of the meme.

A 3D-printed model version of the exercise equipment featured in Nuomi’s music video.

Lastly, the incorporation of the Disney element adds a touch of whimsy to the trend. By introducing characters like Snow White and Mickey Mouse, the trend blends American influences (hip-hop, Disney) with local Chengdu culture, creating a captivating and absurd backdrop for a viral phenomenon.

For some people, the pace in which these trends develop is just too quick. On Weibo, one popular tourism blogger (@吴必虎) wrote: “The viral hotspots are truly unpredictable these days. We’re still seeing buzz around the spicy hot pot in Gansu’s Tianshui, meanwhile, a small seesaw originally meant for the elderly in a residential community suddenly turns into “Chengdu Disneyland,” catching the cultural and tourism authorities of Sichuan and even Shanghai Disneyland off guard. Netizens are truly powerful, even making it difficult for me, as a professional cultural tourism researcher, to keep up with them.”

By Manya Koetse, co-authored by Ruixin Zhang

Independently reporting China trends for over a decade. Like what we do? Support us and get the story behind the hashtag by subscribing:

Spotted a mistake or want to add something? Please let us know in comments below or email us. First-time commenters, please be patient – we will have to manually approve your comment before it appears.

©2024 Whatsonweibo. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce our content without permission – you can contact us at info@whatsonweibo.com.

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