"Women Sell Foot-Soaked Water for 10,000 Won a Cup": Controversy Erupts in China Over "Feet Juice" Sales

'Feet Juice' Makes Appearance at Chinese Animation Event

Female Participants Sell Lemon Water Soaked with Bare Feet

Organizers Expel Participants for "Violating Public Order"

Women participating in an animation event selling lemon water in which they soaked their feet. SNS capture

At a major animation venue in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, several female participants sparked controversy by selling lemon water—dubbed “Feet Juice”—after soaking their bare feet in it. Not only did crowds form to purchase the beverage, but shocking scenes were captured of buyers directly licking their feet or catching the dripping water in their mouths.

"Feet Juice" Sold at Chinese Cosplay Event... Organizers Expel Participants Immediately

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on July 30, some female participants held a bizarre beverage sale at the recent Firefly Comic Convention, a large-scale animation event hosted in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.

With their bare feet immersed in large buckets or containers filled with lemon slices, these participants greeted attendees and served the water in disposable cups, selling each cup for 50 yuan (roughly 9,700 to 10,630 won). A sign at the sales booth read, “This is an event for entertainment only, and there is no intention to encourage inappropriate behavior.”

Women participating in an animation event sell lemon water in which they have soaked their feet. SNS capture

During the event, an unusual sight unfolded as crowds of buyers formed lines at the booth. Some male attendees even lay on the ground with their mouths open to drink water dripping from the women’s feet, or directly touched and licked their feet—behaviors described as shocking by witnesses.

As the scene became increasingly chaotic, event organizers expelled the participants involved. The organizers explained that the performance not only violated event operational rules, but also risked undermining public order and damaging the event’s reputation.

Flood of Criticism: Outcry Over Shocking Stunt and Lack of Guidelines

After footage from the scene spread across major Chinese social media platforms, online users unleashed a torrent of criticism. Comments included, “It’s hard to understand both the sellers and the buyers,” “Serious doubts about hygiene,” and “It’s too disgusting,” with many calling for strict sanctions.

Women participating in an animation event selling lemon water in which they soaked their feet. Screenshot from social media

Recently, the animation and cosplay culture in China has undergone rapid growth, particularly among younger generations, with over 400 large-scale related events held nationwide each year. The most popular events now attract crowds as large as 400,000 people, forming a vast industry ecosystem.

However, public awareness and operational guidelines have not kept pace with this growth, resulting in repeated controversies over provocative or excessive performances. In May, police were called to one event in Guangzhou after a female participant shooting photos on top of a car attracted a crowd of male attendees who touched her feet. In June at a Zhongshan, Guangdong Province event, commercial shoots featuring revealing outfits and provocative settings also sparked criticism.

Experts unanimously agree that for the subculture industry to establish itself as a healthy part of mainstream culture, organizers must strictly maintain order, promptly establish hygiene management guidelines, and impose rigorous sanctions against deviant behavior.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.