A group of female cosplayers has sparked widespread outrage in China after allegedly selling drinks they claimed had been soaked with their feet outside a popular anime convention in Guangzhou.
The incident reportedly took place during the 39th Firefly Animation and Game Carnival, held from July 17 to 20, where several women set up stalls outside the venue selling what they described as “foot-soaked lemon water” or “foot-soaked lemon tea” for 50 yuan (about RM30) per cup.
Videos circulating on social media showed the women placing their feet into buckets containing water or lemon tea before pouring the drinks into cups for customers.
The footage also captured several attendees engaging in controversial behaviour, including lying on the ground with their mouths open to catch the drink and kissing or licking the cosplayers’ feet, drawing large crowds of onlookers.
According to Chinese media outlet Fengmang News, although the stall displayed a sign stating the activity was “for entertainment purposes only”, many people still queued to purchase the drinks.
Reports said the stunt appeared to imitate a similar controversial trend that surfaced at FanimeCon, an anime convention held in California, United States, earlier this year.
The videos quickly went viral, triggering widespread criticism from both the public and members of China’s anime and cosplay community.
Many online users described the stunt as vulgar and attention-seeking, arguing that it went beyond harmless internet humour and damaged the image of cosplay culture.
In response, organisers of the Firefly Animation and Game Carnival issued a statement clarifying that the stall was an unofficial activity conducted outside the exhibition venue and had no connection with the event.
The organisers said they immediately investigated after receiving complaints and removed the cosplayers involved from the venue. They also reiterated their zero-tolerance policy towards obscene or inappropriate behaviour and pledged to strengthen monitoring both inside and outside future events.
