Chinese man plans 'wedding' with 2 women, prank backfires as police steps in after public outrage

A bizarre prank involving a man and two women in China, which initially appeared to be a wedding, was quickly shut down after it caused outrage and prompted police involvement, according to a report by the South China Morning Post.

The incident began when an invitation post featuring a man in a black suit, flanked by two women in white wedding gowns, went viral on Chinese social media. The post, which appeared to be an announcement for a wedding, quickly gained traction in Bijie, a city in southwestern Guizhou province. The photograph led many to believe that a man was planning to marry both women.

The invitation claimed the wedding would take place at the Century Jiayuan Banquet Centre on the afternoon of April 19. However, as reported by The Paper and quoted by SCMP, it was later revealed that this was all part of a prank, not an actual wedding.

Police confirm prank, cancel ceremony

Local police later confirmed that one of the women in the photo was the man’s former wife. Authorities clarified that the wedding photograph and the accompanying invitation were not legitimate but were staged as a prank to attract attention online.

Following the viral spread of the invitation and the public outcry, police intervened, and the event was cancelled after they provided “persuasion and education” to those involved. The man later stated he plans to legally marry his girlfriend in the near future.

Under Chinese law, bigamy is prohibited. While the trio may not face direct legal consequences for the prank, it remains unclear whether authorities will pursue further action.

The banquet venue issued an official statement on April 17 announcing the cancellation of the booking.

“When we received the reservation, we were unaware it involved a three-person wedding. Due to the extensive public attention it garnered, we realised it was quite unconventional. Our management decided to cancel the booking, as it does not comply with the law,” the statement read.

(Also read: Drunk Chinese man impales head on metal rod through mouth, survives 10-hour surgery)

Not the first of its kind

This isn’t the first time such a stunt has made headlines in China. In 2022, a man from Jiangsu province caused a similar stir by sharing photos of himself with his wife and her close friend, claiming he would marry both. The man was later punished by police for disturbing public order, although details of the punishment were not made public. He admitted the entire act was staged to gain attention online.