A bathroom fittings brand in Stavropol, Russia, has sparked widespread controversy with a promotional event that required participants to drink beverages from a toilet bowl using straws for a prize of 100,000 roubles (about HK$10,000).
The competition, dubbed the "Game of Thrones," attracted dozens of contestants. In the first round, participants knelt before a toilet and raced to drink the beverage inside using extra-long straws, with the fastest in each group advancing.
Although organisers insisted the toilets were brand new and unused, the visual of contestants drinking from a toilet bowl quickly went viral online.
The second round tested endurance, with seven finalists required to remain seated on toilet bowls for as long as possible to claim the title of "King of the Toilet Seat." The event lasted 10 hours, with only two participants dropping out.
The competition drew heavy criticism online, with many calling it "disgusting and vulgar" and questioning the brand's marketing ethics. Organisers defended the event, saying it was a novel way to attract attention and that participants were willing volunteers.
