Did Hasan Piker get arrested in China? The real story behind the viral Beijing livestream rumor (Image via Getty)
Hasan Piker, known online as HasanAbi, was not arrested in China, despite what many posts on social media claimed. The American streamer was briefly questioned by Chinese security during a live Twitch stream at the Tiananmen Square flag-raising ceremony in Beijing.During his stream, Hasan Piker and a few people with him were watching the early-morning ceremony when security officers approached them. His stream stopped for a few minutes while the group talked to the officers. Moments later, Hasan resumed the livestream, confirming that everything was fine. Still, short clips from the stream went viral after being shared on X by activist Drew Pavlou, who accused Hasan of being harassed and mocked him for supporting China in the past.Soon after, another account called @PamphletsY joked that Chinese police detained Hasan Piker. Many users believed the joke and started spreading the false rumor that he had been arrested. Several posts and memes followed, but no trusted source confirmed any arrest. According to Sportskeeda and Primetimer, Hasan was only questioned and continued streaming afterward.
Hasan Piker questioned at Tiananmen Square after “Mao Zedong” meme incident
Hasan Piker’s livestream was interrupted after a member of his group showed a “Mao Zedong” meme on their phone, replacing the late Chinese leader’s face with Hasan’s. Security officials quickly noticed the image and came over to talk. Hasan’s stream cut out for a few minutes as they explained everything off-camera.After the chat with officers, Hasan returned online and continued filming the flag-raising ceremony. He later told viewers that the police were extra careful because foreigners rarely attend national events in China. Hasan said they likely thought the group was “making fun of Mao or the ceremony,” but it was a misunderstanding. During the same stream, Hasan also sparked debate when he was seen holding a Chinese flag and saying, “I don’t have any kind of patriotism in my heart for America.” Drew Pavlou reposted that clip, writing:“Hasan Piker declared, ‘I don’t have any kind of patriotism in my heart for America,’ while holding a Chinese flag in Tiananmen Square.”The post received thousands of reactions. Some users mocked him, saying he should “stay in China” if he likes it so much. Others defended him, saying he was being honest about how he feels.Also Read: Candace Owens And CNN Clash After Receipts Reveal She Agreed To Discuss Charlie Kirk In Interview Despite Public ClaimLater, when someone in the chat said he was “lucky not to get arrested,” Hasan called that idea “ridiculous.” He said Chinese security was only being cautious because of “rampant anti-China propaganda” and that the officers were just “doing their job.” Despite online claims, Hasan Piker was never detained or arrested. He kept streaming and confirmed everything was fine.
