Elderly women filmed attacking younger commuter who refused metro seat due to period pain in Shanghai
Two elderly women were filmed fighting and spitting at a younger commuter on a packed Shanghai metro train after she allegedly refused to give up her seat, saying she was unwell due to her period. Police later issued a warning over the incident.
- A Shanghai metro seat dispute escalated into a physical confrontation on 8 May 2026.
- The younger commuter said she felt unwell because she was having her period.
- Viral footage showed shouting, hair-pulling and spitting before passengers intervened.
A dispute over a train seat on the Shanghai metro escalated into a physical confrontation after a younger woman allegedly refused to give up her seat to elderly passengers, according to Chinese media reports.
The incident took place on 8 May 2026 inside a crowded train carriage and was later widely circulated on Chinese social media platforms through videos filmed by commuters.
According to reports, one elderly woman initially asked the younger commuter to surrender her seat. The woman reportedly declined, explaining that she was having her period and did not feel well enough to stand.
“She’s not that old. Can’t she stand for a while?” the woman was quoted as saying during the argument.
Video footage showed the younger woman seated beside an elderly commuter while several other elderly passengers stood nearby inside the packed carriage.
Escalation inside crowded carriage
Witness footage showed both women shouting at each other as tensions escalated.
A second elderly woman, dressed in a red jacket, was seen attempting to restrain the younger commuter during the confrontation.
Chinese-language reports stated that the elderly woman in a pink jacket allegedly grabbed the younger woman’s arm after becoming angered by her refusal to surrender the seat.
The confrontation quickly turned physical as the seated elderly commuter was later seen grabbing the younger woman’s hair.
The struggle caused both women to bump into nearby passengers as commuters attempted to avoid the altercation in the overcrowded carriage.
At one stage, the elderly woman in red was allegedly seen spitting directly at the younger commuter while shouting insults.
The younger woman appeared visibly distressed during the incident and was seen crying while trying to free herself from the struggle.
Passengers later intervened
According to reports, most nearby commuters initially watched from a distance as the confrontation unfolded.
Several minutes later, other passengers stepped in and separated the women, bringing the altercation to an end.
Footage shared online showed the younger woman with dishevelled hair and tears on her face after the incident.
The elderly passengers, meanwhile, reportedly continued arguing and accusing the woman of being “ill-mannered” and “disrespectful” even after the fight had stopped.
Local police later issued a warning regarding the incident, although authorities did not immediately release further details about possible penalties or injuries.
