

Guo Meimei, the Hunan-born 23-year-old who was implicated in the reputation-crushing Red Cross scandal back in 2011 and who’s notorious for recklessly flaunting her wealth online, appeared on CCTV this past Sunday night during a broadcasted “confession” in which she denied having any affiliation with the Red Cross and admitted to gambling and prostitution accusations against her.

While all of internetdom would usually revel in what appears to be the downfall of Guo’s quasi-celebrity career (she made a stupid movie about her stupid life), netizens have criticized the timing of the CCTV airing, which some believe is an attempt to divert the public eye from recent political scandals and nationwide disasters.

Namely, the earthquake that hit Yunnan that day, leaving over 380 people dead, as well as the explosion at a factory in Kunshan the day before that claimed more than 70 lives.

Offbeat China elaborates:

After People’s Daily posted 12 reports on Guo in a row on Weibo without even mentioning the Yunan earthquake this morning, many netizens couldn’t help but drop the F-bomb. “Are these state media nuts? Why the hell do they give Guo more media attention than those earthquake victims?” Many netizens asked. “You don’t care about the several hundred lives lost in Yunnan. You don’t care about the inglorious factory that has took away dozens of hardworking lives. And now what? You suddenly care about Guo Meimei? After ignoring years of calls for her investigation?” One netizens angrily commented. Even worse, many netizens seem to believe that these reports of Guo are but a PR run by China Red Cross in the time of an earthquake when they need to call for donations again. As many netizens asked: “Is the current heavy media takedown of Gou Meimei a pre-donation run for China Red Cross?”

During her aired confession, Guo said that she’d lied about her affiliation with the Red Cross out of vanity, according to SCMP.

“I like to show off,” she said. “I have the vain mindset of a little girl.”

Guo’s business partner Wang Jun, 46, who was also tied up in the scandal, was detained on criminal charges on July 24.

“I would like to tell the Red Cross that I’m sorry,” Guo said in the CCTV report, tearing up. “I want to apologize even more to those people who are unable to get help.”

Web users doubt Guo’s claims, and many questioned why China Red Cross never attempted to sue Guo over damages if there was no link between the two.

Guo further admitted to operating an illegal gambling venue in Beijing as well as prostituting herself to unnamed men.

“There are many men who’d pay anything to sleep with me,” she was quoted as saying. “There is never short of men who want me to be their mistress. But I don’t say yes to them all, because I have my standards, too.”

The Post points out that the Red Cross wrote on its official Weibo page “to please forget Guo Meimei” following her confession. The organization is providing aid to those affected in the Yunnan quake.







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