A Chinese influencer specializing in dishing out dating and relationship advice for women has come under fire for encouraging her followers to choose wealthy partners for financial gain.
Qu Qu, real name ‘Le Chuanqu’, is one of the most controversial social media influencers in China. A former singer, she quickly transitioned to the status of online love guru, offering her followers dating and relationship advice with the main goal of elevating themselves financially. What differentiated Qu Qu from the many other dating gurus on the internet is her open view of relationships as ‘benefit exchanges’ to be exploited for one’s financial gains. Often referring to herself as the “McKinsey of relationships,” Qu Qu tells her fans that romantic relationships and marriages are steps to climbing on the social and financial ladder, so they have to be managed very carefully to achieve the desired results.
“All relationships are essentially about benefit exchanges,” Qu Qu told her fans during a livestreaming session. “Everything should be used to boost my advantage and empower me.”
The controversial ‘love master’ has become one of the most financially successful internet celebrities in China, earning a reported 142 million yuan (19 million) per year. She charges 1,143 yuan ($155) per consultation during her live-streams, and her popular courses cost another 3,580 yuan ($493), but if you’re looking for 1-on-1 private coaching, packages start at 10,000 yuan ($1,380).
Although Qu Qu has legions of fans listening to her every word, her controversial concepts and approach to dating have attracted the attention of Chinese authorities. To avoid breaking the rules of live-streaming in China, the love guru came up with her own vocabulary, which included referring to being married as “inside the fortress”, money as “rice”, and pregnancy as “carrying a ball”.
In December of last year, Qu Qu was banned on Weibo for “repeatedly promoting unhealthy relationship views to gain attention and profiting from selling courses and conveying incorrect values,” but that was not the end of her. Since then, the influencer has been promoting herself and her business through other channels, and she continues to have massive success, especially among young women, who make up her main audience.
“Her approach is understandable,” one of Qu Qu’s supporters said. “What’s wrong with wanting both love and money? This is a realistic society. Why shouldn’t people strive for better?”
“She has profoundly impacted me this year,” someone else commented. “I’ve learned fundamental concepts like goal orientation and leveraging everything to empower myself. Her insights into recognizing a man’s true nature are invaluable. I highly recommend her.”
