Customer Calls Stall “A Place to Avoid” After No Complimentary Fries... 33-Year-Old Vendor Dies

Street Vendor in Her 30s Dies After Negative Review in China
Family: "She Suffered from Online Backlash"... Police Investigate

Controversy spread online after a customer who did not receive complimentary French fries in China posted a negative review. Amid the backlash, a woman in her 30s who ran a street food stall died. The woman, who had operated the stall for more than four years, reportedly complained of psychological distress over the criticism that poured in after the review was posted. Her family claims the negative review published online placed a heavy burden on her.

French fries. Photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Pixabay

According to recent reports by Chinese media outlets including The Paper, Hu, 33, who ran a fried-food stall in Gao County, Yibin, Sichuan Province, China, died on October 9. Beginning October 6, three days before her death, Hu had a dispute with a female customer, identified as A, over the amount of food. The controversy spread after A posted negative reviews on several online platforms.

A wrote on social media: "It was 10 yuan (about 2,000 won) worth of fried food, but they wouldn't give me extra potatoes because I had put in a lot of ingredients. If this is how they run their business, why have a shop at all? It's a place to avoid." She claimed that she did not receive French fries with either of the two portions she ordered and that the owner was arrogant. Comments criticizing the stall followed, and Hu responded with an explanation of her own.

Hu and her husband ran the stall by letting customers choose from around 20 types of fried-food ingredients and place their selections in a basket to be fried. They provided French fries in addition, depending on the amount of ingredients selected. Hu's husband told China Newsweek, "If customers select a lot of ingredients, we give them fewer French fries, and if the amount is excessive, we don't provide any extra. We explain this to customers, too." Hu also defended the portions served in the two orders, saying that she had "nothing to be ashamed of."

Hu and her husband had operated the stall for more than four years and built up a base of regular customers. But after the negative review spread online and became known in the local community, Hu reportedly suffered psychological distress. Her husband said, "I think my wife was carrying a heavy burden in her heart."

After Hu's death, A also faced criticism for writing the negative review. A responded, "I wrote about my actual experience, without malice or fabricating facts," adding that she "should not have to bear unlimited responsibility for a tragedy or be judged online."

Debate has also continued over the legal responsibility of people who post reviews. Local legal experts said that it is necessary to examine whether the review contained false claims or incited others, as well as whether it was causally related to the death.

The stall has suspended operations since the incident. Local police have received a report from the family and are investigating the case.

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