The 'falling stars' challenge is the latest way rich kids are flaunting their wealth
You ever fall out of your Lambo with armfuls of your luxury items just to flex on the proletariat?
The "Falling Stars" challenge is the latest trend sweeping Weibo and Instagram as the elite youth flaunt their wealth on social media. According to South China Morning Post, the trend is also known as the "flaunt your wealth" challenge in Mandarin, and started in Russia before mega-rich Chinese kids adopted it.
The "influencers" post photos of themselves splayed out on the ground in front of their luxury vehicle of choice -- whether a car or a private jet -- and surround themselves with their expensive personal items, as if they were carrying all of their purchases at once and artfully dropped all of them when they fell.
Some are more elaborate than others; as the Verge points out, tech companies are jumping on the meme with narrative ads. In this version, someone trips over a rig and somehow manages to spill the contents of his case into a clear layout of the company's new drone gear.
Most examples, though, show people dressed in designer clothing, surrounded by cash and luxury accessories.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
People have started applying the challenge to their hobbies, from photography to working out.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
Some are parodying the challenge with their pets and children.
Is it worth the clout though? Last Wednesday, two women in Zhejiang, China, were fined for disrupting traffic when they attempted the challenge in the middle of the street. The South China Morning Post says another woman was fined in Shanghai when she "fell" out of her Aston Martin.
Like the "In My Feelings" challenge, you might not want to try this in public. But let's be real, if you have an Aston Martin to fall out of, would you really care about a 200 yuan (US $29) fine?
