Teen in Haidilao urination scandal apologizes in newspaper with parents

One of the 17-year-old boys involved in urinating into a hotpot at a Shanghai Haidilao restaurant, along with his parents, published an apology in the People's Court Daily on Monday, with the teenager pledging to reform.

The incident occurred in February 2025 when two intoxicated 17-year-olds, surnamed Tang and Wu, urinated into a hotpot during a meal and filmed it, later posting the video online, causing widespread outrage. Police administratively detained them shortly after.

In September 2025, a Shanghai court ordered the teenagers and their parents to jointly compensate Haidilao companies 2.2 million yuan (about HK$2,450,000) for damages, including utensil replacement, cleaning, and reputational harm, with any shortfall covered by the parents due to the minors' insufficient assets.

The apology statement expressed deep regret from Tang and his parents for the inappropriate behavior, acceptance of the judgment, and commitment to better education and guidance to become a law-abiding citizen.