The U.S. as Scapegoat: Chinese Social Media Narratives of a Domestic Violence Tragedy in America

• In Event: Victimization in the Digital World

Abstract

This study examines how netizens from Mainland China perceived and interpreted the high-profile 2024 domestic violence-charged murder case involving David Zhu, a Chinese American professor at Arizona State University, who was accused of killing his wife after a long history of domestic violence. Through a thematic analysis of Weibo (China's largest social media platform) comments, this research uncovers a narrative starkly contrasting with U.S. media coverage. The suspect was not blamed for his actions. Instead, netizens shifted responsibility to the U.S. as a nation, framing it as a corrupting force that transformed the suspect and victim—both highly educated, upper-middle-class elites—into "evils." Commenters attributed the tragedy to the negative influences of studying and living abroad, suggesting that the U.S. environment eroded their humanity. This narrative reflects a broader trend of responsibility-shifting that transcends traditional victim-blaming, intertwining domestic violence discourse with contemporary U.S.-China geopolitical tensions. The findings highlight how public interpretations of crime are shaped by socio-political contexts, revealing a unique lens through which Chinese netizens reconcile individual actions with national and cultural identities. This study contributes to understanding the intersection of crime, media, and politics in the digital age, particularly in the context of U.S.-China relations.

Author

• Dongling Zhang, Rockhurst University