CHINA’S SEX DOLLS SERVICE SNUFFED OUT

Sex products retailer takes them off the shelves after being fined

BEIJING

CHINA’S rentable sex dolls have been yanked off the market and the firm responsible for them has apologised, just days after the “shared girlfriends” began strutting their silicon stuff.

Chinese sex-products retailer Touch said yesterday that it “will actively explore healthier and more harmonious ways to diversify people’s sex lives”.

The firm, which only launched the erotic service on Thursday on a trial basis, was fined by police and ordered to cease its promotional activities, the Beijing News reported.

Touch offered for rent lifesized sex dolls supposedly of Chinese, Russian, Korean and Hong Kong women, as well as an Amazon-like “Wonder Woman” with a sword and shield.

Clients could even have their date “warmed up” before delivery and, for an extra fee, have them equipped with a device that made sounds when manhandled.

They were available for shortterm companionship starting at 298 yuan (RM190) per night.

The company had said the “shared girlfriends” would help address the needs of the country’s millions of men unable to find spouses because of a nationwide gender imbalance.

“We are sorry to announce that Touch will suspend the operation of the shared girlfriend project,” the company, based in the southeastern city of Xiamen, said in a statement yesterday on Weibo, China’s equivalent of Twitter.

“Our intention was for more people to experience erotic fun.

“But not long after the project went online, it got attention from society and caused heated discussion.

“After we got a notice from the authorities, we cooperated with investigations and accepted punishment. We express our deepest apology for the bad influence the shared girlfriend had on society.

The country has gone sharingmad in recent months with bikes, umbrellas and basketballs all up for rent. AFP