A Chinese rock singer has been arrested for “damaging social morality†after he pulled down his shorts during a performance at a rock festival in Shijiazhuang, the capital of Hebei province.
The singer, identified by his surname Ding, is the frontman of the band Violent Champagne. He was detained by police on Saturday, July 29, 2023, after he exposed his underwear on stage in response to the audience’s chants of "drop the briefs!"
The incident sparked controversy online, with some netizens questioning the city’s claim to be the “City of Rock†and criticizing the authorities for being too strict and intolerant of artistic expression. Others defended the singer’s actions as a form of rock and roll spirit and a harmless prank.
The local culture bureau of Shijiazhuang said that Ding was not part of the official lineup of the Rock Home Town festival, which runs from July to October to promote tourism and consumption amid China’s post-pandemic economic recovery.
The bureau also said that it would strengthen supervision of performances at the event and impose a fine of $28,000 and a suspension of hosting concerts on the show organizer.
Ding’s current condition is unknown, as he has not been released from custody or made any public statements since his arrest. His bandmates and fans have expressed their support and concern for him on social media, hoping that he would be freed soon and resume his musical career.
chordbandcom