Elderly Chinese women cover noses around Black couple in China elevator [VIDEO]
Elevator Video in China Sparks Uproar Over Elderly Women’s Reaction to Visiting Black Couple
A viral 39-second video has reignited heated online debate over cultural sensitivity, genetics, and potential racial bias, after a Black couple posted footage of what they describe as an “unbelievable” experience in a Chinese shopping mall. The clip, uploaded yesterday (August 7), shows the couple entering a crowded elevator where several elderly Chinese women immediately begin reacting—pinching their noses, fanning their faces, and leaning away as though overwhelmed by an offensive smell.
As the elevator ascends, one woman covers her mouth, others exchange distressed glances, and a few speak animatedly in Chinese. The couple, calm and silent, remain in frame as the reactions continue. The caption reads: “Unbelievable what my husband and I just experienced today in China 😟.” After the doors open, one of the women even appears to follow them out while still gesturing.
The video—originally posted with the overlay caption “L I T E R A L L Y W H E E Z I N G”—has since garnered over 62,000 likes, 3,800 reposts, and millions of views, sparking outrage, ridicule, debate, and cultural analysis across social media platforms.
Genetic Science or Racial Bias?
As expected, the video quickly divided opinion. While some found humor in the moment, others questioned whether the elderly women were reacting to an actual odor or operating on racial prejudice.
One scientific explanation that surfaced in hundreds of reposts and threads centers around the ABCC11 gene, which influences body odor production. Studies show that between 80% and 95% of East Asians, including the majority of Chinese individuals, carry a gene variant that dramatically reduces apocrine sweat production, resulting in minimal or no body odor.
This same gene mutation is responsible for dry earwax, a common trait in East Asians but rare in other populations. As a result, many East Asians are biologically more sensitive to strong smells, including common body odors or perfumes that people in Western or African cultures might not even notice.
Several posters referenced this with scientific precision:
“Many Asians are sensitive to body odor as many have a genetic trait that prevents BO… Go to Japan and no one wants to sit next to a foreigner.” – @Lionelmandrak13
“This happened when I first came to China… heavy perfume. Has nothing to do with racism.” – @DexifierMo
Others pushed back against this framing, suggesting the women’s exaggerated responses crossed a line and pointed toward racial bias or at least xenophobic undertones.
A Pattern Across Platforms
This incident is not isolated. Similar viral moments have emerged in recent years—particularly involving Black or Western travelers visiting East Asia. Many feature locals recoiling or physically moving away in confined spaces like elevators or public transit. Some show people pinching noses or avoiding seats next to foreigners.
In one TikTok repost of the elevator video, a user commented:
“They really couldn’t hide their disgust. This is what we go through daily abroad.”
In contrast, another wrote:
“That’s just how some older Chinese people act in public—overreactive and dramatic. Doesn’t mean they’re racist.”
The cultural divide is evident. Western users often interpret these moments through the lens of microaggressions or anti-Black sentiment, while others cite generational gaps, social etiquette differences, and hygiene culture in China as alternative explanations.
Social Media Reactions: From Mockery to Scientific Threads
By this morning (August 8), more than 2,200 replies and 750 quote tweets had flooded the original X post. The reactions spanned the spectrum:
Humor and Mockery (~40%)
Some users laughed off the moment, making memes or jokes with varying degrees of insensitivity.
“[Excessive Laughter]” – @TheOnlyDSC
“Everyone knows Black people stink.” – @Project_Yukon (widely criticized)
“the real-life version of this 😂” – accompanied by animated memes
Genetic/Cultural Explanation (~30%)
A large share of users took the educational route, offering detailed breakdowns of the ABCC11 gene, body odor variation, and cultural hygiene differences.
One high-performing thread on X broke down how the gene mutation limits secretion of odor-causing chemicals like 3-methyl-2-hexenoic acid, reducing natural body scent and increasing olfactory sensitivity.
Accusations of Racism (~15%)
Others insisted that the women’s behavior constituted racial microaggressions or outright discrimination.
“No se están cubriendo la nariz, se están cubriendo la cara porque les están grabando.” – @Hugothester (translates to “They’re covering their faces because they’re being recorded.”)
“Those old ladies are lucky the Black guy didn’t attack them! I heard hitting elderly Asian women is their specialty.” – @justsotiresome (ironically referencing viral stereotypes)
Staging Suspicions (~10%)
Some viewers raised eyebrows at the fact that the woman started filming before entering the elevator, suggesting the couple may have anticipated or provoked the reaction.
“Why was she filming already tho… maybe she farted in there?” – @TheRoyalSerf
“Why film before anyone got in the elevator? Seems they expected the reaction.” – @DexifierMo
Empathy and Nuance (~5%)
A small segment commended the couple for remaining calm and shared sympathy over what they perceived as a humiliating situation.
“Covid hit them first… I woulda covered my face too” – @cityboicoach
“Kudos for not committing the usual violence” – @JTCTX1
A Bigger Conversation: Biology Meets Culture
Experts say that this moment—while shocking—is not a standalone act of discrimination, but part of a broader collision between genetics, culture, and miscommunication.
Research published in 2023 ties high Body Odor Disgust Sensitivity (BODS) to xenophobia, suggesting that certain populations may subconsciously associate unfamiliar smells with outsiders. While the science provides a framework, it does not excuse cruelty or rudeness—especially when amplified by racialized assumptions.
The reality is likely a confluence of factors: an elderly generation raised with strict hygiene norms, amplified sensitivity to unfamiliar scents, and—potentially—prejudices that linger beneath the surface.
Final Thoughts
As the video continues circulating across platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and Facebook, its impact stretches far beyond one elevator ride. It shines a light on how our senses—especially smell—can become flashpoints for deeper cultural divides. Also, how social media often transforms awkward interactions into global flashpoints.
Whether seen as a harmless misunderstanding or a blatant display of prejudice, the elevator incident challenges viewers to question how we judge and react to each other in shared spaces—and how far we still have to go in building real cross-cultural empathy.