China woman goes viral after husband smashes living room over dishwasher purchase
A domestic dispute in China has gone viral after a woman shared footage showing her husband smashing up their rented home over a 1,500-yuan (US$215) dishwasher purchase, sparking widespread debate online over finances, communication and domestic violence.
- A man in Guangdong allegedly vandalised his home after his wife refused to return a dishwasher she bought without consulting him.
- The woman said the appliance was necessary due to cold winter tap water, while the husband cited financial pressure and debts.
- The incident triggered heated online debate over domestic violence, financial responsibility and marital communication.
CHINA: A woman in China’s Guangdong province has gone viral after posting a video showing her husband smashing furniture in their home over a dishwasher purchase.
In the video, posted on 8 January, the woman said she bought a 1,500-yuan (US$215) dishwasher from an online platform without informing her husband. She explained that washing dishes by hand had become unbearable during winter due to freezing tap water.
She added that her husband does not help with washing up.
Husband Learns of Purchase During Installation
According to the woman, the dispute erupted when a worker arrived at their rented flat to install the dishwasher.
Upon discovering the purchase, her husband demanded that she cancel the order and return the appliance, arguing that the family could not afford the additional water and electricity costs.
“It is not expensive. We can afford it,” the woman responded, refusing to comply.
Furniture Smashed, Wife Leaves Home
When the husband attempted to stop the installation and the woman objected, he reportedly flew into a rage, smashing furniture and household items in the living room.
The woman later posted footage showing the wrecked interior.
She said she ran out of the house crying and wandered the streets for about an hour before spending the night at a hotel.
“I really do not understand why he will not allow me to buy the dishwasher. I do not think I have done anything wrong,” she said tearfully in the video.
Financial Pressure Behind the Dispute
The woman admitted that the argument was one of many conflicts they had over spending.
She said her husband works in another city and earns about 11,000 yuan (US$1,570) a month, while she stays in their hometown caring for their two children.
She added that she had been ill and unemployed the previous year, and that her husband was under significant financial pressure due to debt.
Apology and Return of Dishwasher
Despite the incident, the woman said she returned the dishwasher the following day.
Her husband later called to apologise, saying he had been in a bad mood and promised to treat her better. He also suggested they could buy a smaller dishwasher in future.
Online Debate and Legal Perspective
The incident sparked intense debate online.
Some netizens condemned the husband’s actions, calling them violent and urging the woman to leave the marriage. Others sympathised with the husband, citing financial stress and questioning the wife’s decision to make the purchase without discussion.
A family affairs lawyer based in Xi’an said both parties shared responsibility.
She said the wife should not have made a significant purchase beyond the family’s financial means without consulting her husband, but stressed that destroying property at home constituted unacceptable domestic violence.
“No matter how stressed you are, you cannot wreck the home,” the lawyer said.
