A male influencer with over 12 million followers is facing public fury after posting a video documenting his wife's 23-hour labor. The footage, uploaded to social media, included sensitive scenes and moments where his wife experienced severe postpartum hemorrhage, as reported by SCMP on 23/2.

The influencer, known as "Paul in America", born in 1990, is a former Columbia University student and ex-Microsoft product manager. He rose to prominence after starting to share his life in Seattle in 2/2019, captivating 12.2 million fans by early 2026 with his persona as a tech intellectual speaking with a Northeastern China accent.

However, Paul's reputation suffered significantly after the video, which documented his wife's painful and complicated labor. The footage showed his wife, visibly pale and exhausted, still attempting to cooperate for the camera. She endured a third-degree perineal tear, a severe injury that can lead to fecal incontinence. The video also publicly displayed her postpartum hemorrhage, with an estimated blood loss of 3,344 ml. Following emergency surgery and blood transfusions, both the mother and their newborn daughter recovered from critical danger.

Paul faced criticism for publicly sharing his wife's childbirth video. *Photo: Weibo*

The public outcry intensified after viewers discovered that Paul had embedded a diaper advertisement within the video's final segment. He even narrated the brand's promotional message while his wife remained in her hospital bed. Data from the Xingtu platform indicates that each of Paul's promotional videos commands an advertising fee between 250,000 and 300,000 Chinese Yuan (CNY), approximately 940 million to 1.1 billion Vietnamese Dong (VND).

Obstetric experts explain that a third-degree perineal tear is a severe injury impacting the anal sphincter and rectum. The woman in the video experienced not only the pain of this tear but also critical postpartum hemorrhage. This condition represents an urgent obstetric emergency, posing an immediate threat to life without timely hemostasis and intensive resuscitation.

Doctors emphasize that undergoing a 23-hour labor and then being required to perform, narrate, or collaborate with filming from a hospital bed significantly increases stress and exhaustion for a new mother. Medical professionals recommend absolute rest for new mothers during the postpartum period, especially within the first 24 hours, to facilitate uterine contraction, control bleeding, and stabilize hemodynamics. Any distraction or exertion for video production could impede vital sign monitoring and mask critical symptoms of hemorrhage or shock.

In response to public backlash, Paul removed the video from all online platforms and issued an apology. He acknowledged his shortcomings in content management and a lack of foresight, which led to unintended misunderstandings and caused distress to his family. The influencer expressed deep regret, stating he would temporarily halt all commercial creative endeavors to prioritize his wife's care.

On 10/2, Paul's wife publicly defended him, stating that the video's intention was to document the harsh realities and unpredictable risks associated with childbirth. She maintained that her labor progressed smoothly, attributing it to her husband's encouragement and the dedicated support of the medical team. She also thanked the public for their concern, revealing her health was recovering as per her doctor's plan.

However, this explanation did not quell the controversy. Just one day later, the social media platform officially banned the "Paul in America" account for severe violations of its legal regulations and community policies.

*Binh Minh (Sources: Sina, SCMP, SETN)*