Suicide of Fat Cat

On 11 April 2024, at 4:43 AM, Liu Jie, a 20-year-old Chinese male gamer known as "Fat Cat" took his own life. He had moved to Chongqing to live with his girlfriend. She rejected his offer to move in together, Fat Cat transferred a large sum of money to her, and he ended his life by jumping from a bridge. The incident gained widespread media attention.

Background
Fat Cat was born in Chenzhou, Hunan Province, on 18 May 2003. He worked for around 10 hours a day game boosting, or professionally playing video games for other people. In November 2021, Fat Cat met his girlfriend through the mobile game Honor of Kings. He led a frugal personal life and financially supported his girlfriend. Fat Cat contributed 70,000 yuan to help her open a shop. In April 2024, Fat Cat traveled from Hunan to Chongqing to live with his girlfriend. She declined his offer to move in, and the relationship soon ended. Fat Cat then transferred a large sum of money to her and jumped off a bridge in Chongqing. His body was found 12 days later. Following the incident, his former girlfriend publicly apologized and returned a portion of the money to the family. Fat Cat's body was cremated on 3 May 2024.

Aftermath and reactions
In May 2024, many Chongqing residents began gathering at the bridge. They placed flowers, McDonald's meals, and bubble tea at the site, inspired by Fat Cat's profile picture that read, "I don't want vegetables, I want McDonald's." Fat Cat's sister asked people not to have food delivered to the bridge because of growing traffic by Fat Cat's memorial. People who had ordered takeout to be delivered to the memorial discovered that the packages and containers were empty or filled with water. Five brands involved in the incident issued apologies. They announced punitive measures against offending locations and pledged to refund the orders." One brand, ChaPanda also made, a donation to the Sichuan Youth Development Foundation in Fat Cat's name. McDonald's Vietnam attempted to use a slogan that referenced the suicide. Vietnamese customers called for a boycott, and McDonald's Vietnam issued an apology online.

Fat Cat's sister pressed charges against his former girlfriend. The Hunan police department said that the two had been an actual relationship and that the case did not amount to fraud.

Many netizens have compared the suicide of Fat Cat with that of Su Xiangmao.