Dangdang co-founders quarrel, spark debate

Li Guoqing and Yu Yu, co-founders of Chinese online book retailer Dangdang, since Wednesday continue to quarrel online and have sparked heated debate.

Yu Yu, Li's wife, graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University and stayed in the US for over ten years after graduation. In 1996, she met Li and fell in love with him. After three months, the two married and returned to China.

In 1999, the couple established Dangdang. In 2005, the company's sales exceeded 440 million yuan ($62.29 million) and in October 2010, Dangdang listed publicly.

In February 2019, Li published an open letter announcing he was going to leave Dangdang and start a new journey. At the end of July, Li initiated a divorce suit with Yu.

In October, Li gave an interview during which he condemned Yu for forcing him to leave the company. He said he did not make the decision to leave Dangdang. Failing to restrain his emotions, he even hurled a glass to the floor.

On Wednesday, Yu wrote three lengthy comments under Li's WeChat Moment in response, making negative claims about Li.

Yu said her husband is in a gay relationship with several young men and suffers from syphilis. She also accused him of taking 130 million yuan in cash from home, some of which belonged to her parents.

On Thursday, Li lashed out against Yu's insults on his Sina Weibo account, claiming she has ruined his reputation and that he was going to prosecute her.

The rare public exchange of words between the internet tycoon and his wife soon became the hottest topic among netizens.

They are appalled by the secrets about the tycoon revealed by his wife and many said they believed these accusations despite Li rejecting all.