Compensation ordered in Chinese celebrities' GM defamation case

Cui Yongyuan, former well known anchor and also a CPPCC member asks questions during a workshop. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

BEIJING - Two high-profile pundits who traded insults online after taking opposing stances on GM corn were ordered by a Beijing court Thursday to compensate each other, delete the remarks in question and publicly apologize.

Beijing Haidian District People's Court found that Fang Shimin, an online celebrity and biochemist who writes under the pen name Fang Zhouzi, and Cui Yongyuan, a former TV host with state broadcaster CCTV, were guilty of defamation on microblogging platform Sina Weibo in September 2013.

They now must pay each other 45,000 yuan and make public apologies on Sina Weibo and in the Xinhua Daily Telegraph.

Neither were in court for the ruling.

Fang's attorney said he would appeal.

The spat began when Cui questioned Fang's promotion of GM corn. It escalated, with the two exchanging accusations including over each other's personal finances.

The court heard that Cui called Fang "pig's elbow," after a famous dish that has a similar pronunciation as Fang's pen name "Zhouzi" in Chinese. He also called Fang a "rogue."

On the other side, Fang denounced Cui as a "mad dog" and a "zombie host."

Fang filed a lawsuit against Cui in January last year, asking him to stop "infringing upon his reputation," apologize and pay 300,000 yuan in compensation for his mental suffering.

Cui counter-sued, asking for an apology and compensation of 670,000 yuan.

The case drew wide attention from the public in China, as both had supporters.

"Discussion by celebrities can fuel welcome public debate on important issues," said sociologist Zhou Xiaozheng. "If their discussion turns into a brawl, however, it can only tarnish their images."