God of Fortune mascot in S'pore seen doing lewd moves with lion dance troupe

A person dressed as Cai Shen Ye, also known as God of Fortune, was reportedly seen lying on the ground, climbing on lion dance performers, and doing lewd moves during a performance.

The footage showed the person in the mascot repeatedly dry humping the performer's tail with his crotch, while the lion dance troupe performed the traditional Cai Qing (peeling mandarin oranges) routine.

One lion dance troupe member appeared to hit the person dressed as the mascot, seemingly signaling them to stop.

Other photos showed the mascot lying on the ground at times and climbing onto the lion dance performers.

The video drew criticism from online users, with some calling the behaviour "embarrassing and disrespectful" to Chinese culture.

Some lion dance fans said they would rather children not watch if such behaviour becomes normal.

Undermining traditional culture

Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, the president of the Singapore Wushu Lion and Dragon Dance Federation shared that lion dance is a traditional Chinese practice that should follow established norms, especially during the Cai Qing ritual.

He noted that he had not seen the video but clarified that Cai Shen Ye is usually not part of lion dance performance.

Hence, it’s unclear whether the person belonged to the troupe.

"Lion dance during the New Year symbolises bringing blessing to others. This is a long-standing cultural tradition, and we remind troupe members to follow proper protocols during performances and rituals," he said.

Hong added that lion dance often attracts many children, and any inappropriate behaviour could have a negative influence.

"Creativity in lion dance is fine, but it must follow guidelines. Adding indecent actions for the sake of innovation undermines the rich heritage of Chinese culture," he said.

Top image via Shin Min Daily News