Female cosplayers at an anime convention in Guangzhou, China, sparked outrage after selling drinks prepared in containers where they had soaked their bare feet. The incident occurred outside the 39th Firefly Anime Game Carnival, held from July 17 to 20. Videos showed cosplayers sitting beside large tubs containing water and lemon slices while companions served the liquid in disposable cups. Each cup cost 50 yuan, or about $7 to $7.50. Read More: Meet the AI Drone That Hunts and Kills Mosquitoes Mid-Air Some social media posts described both lemon-flavoured and cola-based drinks. However, reports from established outlets mainly documented lemon-infused water. The available reports did not confirm how many cups sellers distributed or whether the drinks completely sold out. Crowds Gather Around Unofficial Stalls Videos circulated widely on Chinese social media after dozens of people gathered around the stalls. Some attendees queued to purchase cups, while others filmed the spectacle. 真的有这么变态的人吗？买人家的洗脚水喝，还50一杯！ pic.twitter.com/YLSELorHMm— 默默 (@momoGZ0412) July 21, 2026 More extreme clips appeared to show customers drinking liquid dripping directly from the cosplayers’ feet. Other footage showed attendees touching or licking their feet as onlookers cheered and recorded videos. A notice beside one stall sought to portray the activity as a joke. “It is for entertainment only. We do not intend to guide in an inappropriate way,” it read. The stalls operated in an outdoor public area rather than as authorised vendors inside the exhibition hall. That distinction became important after organisers faced criticism over the incident. Online users condemned the scenes as vulgar, unhygienic and damaging to China’s cosplay community. Many also questioned why people would knowingly consume a drink handled under such conditions. Read More: Man Fired Minutes Into Hawaii Vacation as Wife’s Video Goes Viral The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says contaminated food or drinks can contain germs that cause foodborne illness. Its general guidance urges consumers to choose properly handled beverages and follow basic cleaning and food safety practices. Organisers Ban Similar Stalls Firefly organisers intervened after the videos attracted widespread attention. Chinese media quoted them as saying they had expelled the cosplayers and would prohibit similar stalls from returning. “We have expelled the cosplayers involved and explicitly prohibited such vulgar stalls from appearing again,” the organisers said, according to a translated statement reported by Chinese media. The Guangzhou stunt appeared to copy a controversy at FanimeCon in San Jose, California, in May. That activity took place during Park Con, an unofficial outdoor gathering connected with convention attendees. Read More: Routine Dental Check Ends in Controversy After Patient Loses 12 Teeth Videos from San Jose showed costumed participants selling a red drink after placing their feet inside coolers. Signs advertised cups, small swigs and other options. Reports said customers consumed the drink and that the sellers ran out within an hour. The California sale also raised questions about food vending permits and public health rules. FanimeCon’s official programme did not organise the outdoor stunt, and reports found no immediate evidence of enforcement action. The Guangzhou organisers said they would strengthen restrictions after the backlash. The episode has also intensified debate over increasingly provocative stunts designed to attract attention at cosplay events.
What Happened Inside This Daycare Left Parents Stunned
Police in Bengaluru have launched an investigation after disturbing videos allegedly showed a young child being abused inside a daycare centre on the HAL campus of global IT company Capgemini. The case involves a child aged between two and three years. Authorities registered a case against five female caregivers after verifying the daycare centre and reviewing videos that surfaced on June 29. One video allegedly shows the child locked inside a toilet. The child lies on the floor and cries uncontrollably while a woman records the incident. Another clip appears to show a caregiver making the child sit on a toilet seat. She then sprays water on the child’s face with a toilet jet. A third video allegedly shows the child sitting inside the drum of a front load washing machine. The child appears frightened and continues crying. Police have not confirmed whether other children also suffered abuse. Investigators are examining the videos and questioning the caregivers. Company closes daycare as inquiry expands Deputy Commissioner of Police Saidulu Adavath said the children enrolled at the centre belong to professionals working on the campus. “The children enrolled at the daycare belong to professionals working on the campus, who leave them there during work hours,” he said. He described the alleged treatment as extremely serious. https://Twitter.com/SmritiSharma_/status/2072327602744999953 Investigators are also trying to determine who managed the daycare. They are examining whether Capgemini operated the facility directly or hired an outside agency. Police have questioned all five caregivers. However, officers have not made any arrests so far. The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has also taken cognisance of the case. It will seek a detailed report and conduct its own inquiry. Capgemini said employee safety and family wellbeing remain its highest priorities. The company added that it is fully cooperating with investigators. It has also temporarily closed the on campus daycare centre as a precaution. Capgemini is headquartered in Paris. It operates in more than 50 countries and employs around 350,000 people worldwide. The company has major offices in Bengaluru, Pune, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Gurugram, Noida and Kolkata. Experts urge parents to stay alert The incident has renewed concerns about childcare safety at workplace daycare centres. Many companies provide daycare facilities so employees can leave young children nearby during working hours. Child welfare experts advise parents to make unannounced visits whenever possible. They also recommend speaking with children regularly about their daily experiences. Parents should maintain close contact with caregivers. They should also review CCTV footage if the facility allows it. Experts say parents must never ignore unexplained injuries, sudden behavioural changes or signs of fear. If abuse is suspected, parents should immediately contact the police. They should also inform the Child Welfare Committee or the local child protection officer. Seeking legal advice and arranging a medical examination can also help protect the child’s rights. Police continue investigating the case. Officers are trying to determine how the alleged abuse occurred, whether more children were affected and who bears responsibility for operating the daycare.
