Chinese Couple’s Public BDSM Date Goes Viral, Lands Them In Trouble With Police

A couple in China has found themselves in a different set of handcuffs, following their public BDSM date.

A 23-year-old woman, surnamed Sun, and her 20-year-old boyfriend, surnamed Yu, were spotted taking an unconventional stroll together. Passersby filmed Yu, who was wearing dog headgear, walking on all fours behind Sun. Sun was carrying a whip and, at times, holding a rope attached to Yu’s mask like a leash.

Both whips and masks are staples for some individuals who engage in BDSM (Bondage and Discipline, Dominance and Submission, Sadism and Masochism). Dog gear, such as masks and collars, are particularly popular with people who participate in pet play, which involves roleplaying as pet and owner.

Though BDSM can be sexual, that isn’t necessarily the case for everyone. Dominance and Submission, for instance–a dynamic often present in pet play–may be more about power dynamics than sexual gratification.

While many BDSM couples choose to play in private, Sun and Yu took their dog-and-owner walk on Die Lake Bridge in Zhengzhou, China, on November 18. According to Beijing News, the couple recently met and “staged the stunt for excitement.” 

A video of the couple went viral on Douyin (China’s TikTok), racking up over 9 million views on the platform as well as 150 million on Weibo. The “stunt,” which has received largely negative feedback from the Chinese public, attracted police attention. Police have detained Sun and Yu for “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.”