<p>For months now, Indonesian audiences have been captivated by one film: Norma, a dramatic tale about a seemingly happy marriage torn apart by the husband's secret affair with his mother-in-law. While this kind of plot—ripe with melodrama—is usually enough to attract attention, what has truly fueled the nationwide frenzy is that Norma is based on a viral real-life story. In 2022, Norma Risma, a woman from Serang City on Java Island, posted a TikTok video revealing her husband’s affair with her own mother. The video quickly went viral, garnering millions of views, making headlines, and even landing her a movie deal that would sweep Southeast Asia.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Released in March in Indonesian theaters and streaming on Netflix by August, Norma quickly became one of the most-watched films not only in Indonesia but also in neighboring Malaysia and Singapore. The film taps into a growing trend among Indonesian filmmakers: adapting real-life, viral scandals into films. Such themes of infidelity and marital betrayal are highly controversial in Indonesia, where adultery can lead to imprisonment, and the country’s new criminal code—effective next year—criminalises sex outside of marriage. Even in the most conservative regions, public flogging of couples engaging in premarital sex is still a reality. Yet, in this conservative climate, there's an undeniable voyeuristic intrigue surrounding such scandals.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/is-katrina-kaif-pregnant-viral-photo-sparks-buzz-about-first-child-with-vicky-kaushal-1758355831964"><strong>Is Katrina Kaif pregnant? Viral photo sparks buzz about first child with Vicky Kaushal</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>While many social media users are appalled by the affair, some even wonder if the actors involved will feel discomfort after filming such intimate scenes. In one particular scene, a character who uncovers the affair literally vomits at the sight, a moment that captures the audience’s shock. What sets Norma apart from similar films, however, is that the real Norma Risma had a hand in the film’s creation. Screenwriter Oka Aurora, who also worked on other TikTok-inspired stories like Ipar Adalah Maut and Layangan Putus, spent considerable time with Norma, discussing her feelings and her family’s history. Though some parts were fictionalised for dramatic effect, the core of the story remains true to Norma’s experience. Oka emphasizes the film’s broader message of empowering women to speak out about infidelity and violence. “This is a small step for women to speak up,” she was quoted as saying, noting that these films give women a voice in a traditionally patriarchal society.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: '</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-stay-in-the-country-for-now-amazon-advises-h-1b-and-h-4-visa-holders-amid-100k-fee-rule-and-new-us-immigration-policies-1758354459671"><strong>Stay in the country for now': Amazon advises H-1B and H-4 visa holders amid $100K fee rule and new US immigration policies</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>For the real Norma, now working as an outsourced employee in her hometown, life continues. Her mother, Rihanah, who served an eight-month prison sentence for her affair, has returned to live with Norma, while her ex-husband, Rozy, serves a nine-month sentence. Despite everything, Norma finds solace in the support she receives from others who have been through similar struggles. Since the film’s release, Norma has remained active on social media, sharing glimpses of her life and receiving an outpouring of support. On TikTok, where she shared photos of herself with a cake sent by the film's production company, fans flooded her with messages of admiration.</p>

A mother, a husband, and a scandal that took over Indonesia: The shocking story of Norma

For months now, Indonesian audiences have been captivated by one film: Norma, a dramatic tale about a seemingly happy marriage torn apart by the husband's secret affair with his mother-in-law. While this kind of plot—ripe with melodrama—is usually enough to attract attention, what has truly fueled the nationwide frenzy is that Norma is based on a viral real-life story. In 2022, Norma Risma, a woman from Serang City on Java Island, posted a TikTok video revealing her husband’s affair with her own mother. The video quickly went viral, garnering millions of views, making headlines, and even landing her a movie deal that would sweep Southeast Asia. Released in March in Indonesian theaters and streaming on Netflix by August, Norma quickly became one of the most-watched films not only in Indonesia but also in neighboring Malaysia and Singapore. The film taps into a growing trend among Indonesian filmmakers: adapting real-life, viral scandals into films. Such themes of infidelity and marital betrayal are highly controversial in Indonesia, where adultery can lead to imprisonment, and the country’s new criminal code—effective next year—criminalises sex outside of marriage. Even in the most conservative regions, public flogging of couples engaging in premarital sex is still a reality. Yet, in this conservative climate, there's an undeniable voyeuristic intrigue surrounding such scandals. Also Read: Is Katrina Kaif pregnant? Viral photo sparks buzz about first child with Vicky Kaushal While many social media users are appalled by the affair, some even wonder if the actors involved will feel discomfort after filming such intimate scenes. In one particular scene, a character who uncovers the affair literally vomits at the sight, a moment that captures the audience’s shock. What sets Norma apart from similar films, however, is that the real Norma Risma had a hand in the film’s creation. Screenwriter Oka Aurora, who also worked on other TikTok-inspired stories like Ipar Adalah Maut and Layangan Putus, spent considerable time with Norma, discussing her feelings and her family’s history. Though some parts were fictionalised for dramatic effect, the core of the story remains true to Norma’s experience. Oka emphasizes the film’s broader message of empowering women to speak out about infidelity and violence. “This is a small step for women to speak up,” she was quoted as saying, noting that these films give women a voice in a traditionally patriarchal society. Also Read: 'Stay in the country for now': Amazon advises H-1B and H-4 visa holders amid $100K fee rule and new US immigration policies For the real Norma, now working as an outsourced employee in her hometown, life continues. Her mother, Rihanah, who served an eight-month prison sentence for her affair, has returned to live with Norma, while her ex-husband, Rozy, serves a nine-month sentence. Despite everything, Norma finds solace in the support she receives from others who have been through similar struggles. Since the film’s release, Norma has remained active on social media, sharing glimpses of her life and receiving an outpouring of support. On TikTok, where she shared photos of herself with a cake sent by the film's production company, fans flooded her with messages of admiration.

<p>The story of Norma Risma, who exposed her husband's affair with her mother through TikTok, has turned into a viral sensation and a box-office hit in Southeast Asia, sparking a conversation on infidelity and empowerment</p>

<p>TikTok, a short-format video hosting service, was initially launched as a platform for sharing byte-sized content like makeup tutorials, cooking recipes, dances etc. However, after the rollback of Roe v. Wade, there are reports of potentially dangerous abortion-related information running on the platform. Following the Roe v. Wade ruling last Friday, that would make abortion illegal in America, prompting protests by women and reproductive rights advocates across the country, people seem to have taken the matter into their own hands.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A text that flashes on the social media platform reads: "If you’re a female in America worried about your future, just know there is an herb for every'situation'," followed by a list of herbs including pennyroyal, blue cohosh, and mugwort. A new wave of discussion is currently going on on TikTok that focuses on herbs that can cause abortions. After the ruling, people on TikTok are offering grassroots solutions to those who seek abortion facilities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, medical professionals are concerned about this increasing trend of TikTok creators&nbsp;promoting these herbal abortifacients. These herbs can also have catastrophic effects on a woman’s health. Mary Jane Minkin, MD, a gynaecologist and clinical professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the Yale University School of Medicine, on knowing about the trends said, "I’m horrified. They’re going to kill people. She also stated that performing abortions at home can turn fatal and result in sepsis or death. "It’s terrifying because 49 years ago, that’s how women died," she said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One of the most commonly mentioned abortifacients on TikTok is a minty, sweet-smelling plant called pennyroyal, which is also used in essential oils and insect repellents, reported the Rolling Stone. However, according to Josh Trebach, a medical toxicologist and emergency medicine physician in Lowa City, the herb contains pulegone, which gets metabolised in the body and produces toxins that might result in liver necrosis, causing indigestion-related side effects like nausea, vomiting, and pain in the abdomen as well as seizures, comas, liver failure, and even death.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/roe-v-wade-overturned-heres-what-the-ruling-means-for-millions-of-american-women-491461">Roe v Wade overturned: Here's what the ruling means for millions of American women</a></p>

<p>Another herb cited on TikTok is called Blue Cohosh, which contains a compound called methylcytosine. If used in large doses, it can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, profuse drooling, heart rhythms, muscle weakness, seizures, coma, and even death.</p>

<p>Trebach said, "People may, at the end of the day, perceive these to be potential solutions because they have no other options. As a toxicologist that really scares me." He further added that due to a lack of research on these herbs, even medical experts don’t know whether these herbs work well to cause abortions. "But we do know it can get people really, really sick," he stated.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch American actress Sharon Stone speak about her painful miscarriage story here:-</strong></p>

<p>&nbsp;<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_X7BHpu_0DQ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p>On TikTok, there is an abundance of misinformation about these dangerous herbal abortifacients. One of the hashtags, # pennyroyaltea, has received approximately 1.1 million views and advocates the use of an abortifacient. Another hashtag for mugwort has over 157 million views. With that hashtag, the most popular video has more than 350,000 views and says, "This is caution not to drink mugwort tea while pregnant because it may simulate your menstrual cycle resulting in losing [sic] the fetus. Once again, please don’t do this." Despite the fact that the video's caption reads, "Life hack # roevwade # womensrights."</p>

<p>Trabach noted that he came across posts relating to herbal abortifacients such as pennyroyal and mugwort last month, shortly after the news about the impending Roe v. Wade decision was leaked. Searches for "pennyroyal," "blue cohosh", and "mugwort" have shot up in the past month. As per recent Google Trends data, searches for "pennyroyal abortion" have increased by 40 per cent, and searches for "blue cohosh pregnancy" grew by 70 percent over the past week.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="Roe v Wade overturned: Meta, Disney to pay for employees’ abortion-related travel costs after SCOTUS ruling">Roe v Wade overturned: Meta, Disney to pay for employees’ abortion-related travel costs after SCOTUS ruling</a></p>

<p>Though the rise in herbal abortifacients advocacy has emerged because of the rollback of the abortion rights law, they have remained available in the underground market, through herbalists and midwives, leading to those who seek such options for abortion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>There are several blogs and Reddit threads that include step-by-step information on how to self-perform an abortion, and with the speed with which the misinformation is spreading, it can become threatening to lives. "Fifty years ago we didn’t have TikTok. There was some filtration in information. But now anyone can publish anything anywhere and it gets out to billions of people. It just terrifies me," says a medical expert.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the United States, the herbal supplement market is unregulated. Therefore, people can buy anything that is sold to them as herbal, and it may not be. A study by integrative medicine and women’s health specialist Fredi Kronenberg mentions that three out of 11 products that were marketed as black cohosh had no black cohosh in them. Black cohosh is used to provide relief from menopausal effects.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Due to the strict content guidelines of TikTok, several videos indirectly try to share messages about how these are effective and safe alternatives to causing abortion under the disguise of keywords. Experts believe that those who are trying to provide alternatives to people in need are helping them, but these home remedies cannot replace medical treatment.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/roe-v-wade-overturned-us-companies-that-have-pledged-support-to-its-female-employees-491766">Roe v Wade overturned: US Companies that have pledged support to its female employees</a></p>

<p>TikTok has not yet responded to the spread of misinformation on its platform, and it is not the first time that the platform has received criticism for letting videos containing wrong and harmful information regarding health. Rolling Stone reported that last year, TikTok came under fire for pushing the use of ivermectin medicine as a cure for the COVID disease. Ivermectin is a horse deworming medication.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, experts said that TikTok should take control over the spread of such hazardous information on its platform.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Currently, in the US, websites such as Plan C and Safe2Choose are operational that can connect with people seeking abortions at home and provide solutions like abortion pills, a much safer and more reliable option. People without any age limit can order mifepristone and misoprostol from Aid Access, which ships drugs anywhere in the US and around the world.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/us-abortion-law-ruling-celebrities-who-came-out-with-their-abortion-stories-491642#phoebe-bridgers-491635">Roe vs Wade Overturned: Celebrities who came out with their abortion stories</a></p>


TikTok, a short-format video hosting service, was initially launched as a platform for sharing byte-sized content like makeup tutorials, cooking recipes, dances etc.

TikTok, a short-format video hosting service, was initially launched as a platform for sharing byte-sized content like makeup tutorials, cooking recipes, dances etc. However, after the rollback of Roe v. Wade, there are reports of potentially dangerous abortion-related information running on the platform. Following the Roe v. Wade ruling last Friday, that would make abortion illegal in America, prompting protests by women and reproductive rights advocates across the country, people seem to have taken the matter into their own hands. A text that flashes on the social media platform reads: "If you’re a female in America worried about your future, just know there is an herb for every'situation'," followed by a list of herbs including pennyroyal, blue cohosh, and mugwort. A new wave of discussion is currently going on on TikTok that focuses on herbs that can cause abortions. After the ruling, people on TikTok are offering grassroots solutions to those who seek abortion facilities. Meanwhile, medical professionals are concerned about this increasing trend of TikTok creators promoting these herbal abortifacients. These herbs can also have catastrophic effects on a woman’s health. Mary Jane Minkin, MD, a gynaecologist and clinical professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the Yale University School of Medicine, on knowing about the trends said, "I’m horrified. They’re going to kill people. She also stated that performing abortions at home can turn fatal and result in sepsis or death. "It’s terrifying because 49 years ago, that’s how women died," she said. One of the most commonly mentioned abortifacients on TikTok is a minty, sweet-smelling plant called pennyroyal, which is also used in essential oils and insect repellents, reported the Rolling Stone. However, according to Josh Trebach, a medical toxicologist and emergency medicine physician in Lowa City, the herb contains pulegone, which gets metabolised in the body and produces toxins that might result in liver necrosis, causing indigestion-related side effects like nausea, vomiting, and pain in the abdomen as well as seizures, comas, liver failure, and even death. Also Read: Roe v Wade overturned: Here's what the ruling means for millions of American women Another herb cited on TikTok is called Blue Cohosh, which contains a compound called methylcytosine. If used in large doses, it can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, profuse drooling, heart rhythms, muscle weakness, seizures, coma, and even death. Trebach said, "People may, at the end of the day, perceive these to be potential solutions because they have no other options. As a toxicologist that really scares me." He further added that due to a lack of research on these herbs, even medical experts don’t know whether these herbs work well to cause abortions. "But we do know it can get people really, really sick," he stated. Watch American actress Sharon Stone speak about her painful miscarriage story here:- On TikTok, there is an abundance of misinformation about these dangerous herbal abortifacients. One of the hashtags, # pennyroyaltea, has received approximately 1.1 million views and advocates the use of an abortifacient. Another hashtag for mugwort has over 157 million views. With that hashtag, the most popular video has more than 350,000 views and says, "This is caution not to drink mugwort tea while pregnant because it may simulate your menstrual cycle resulting in losing [sic] the fetus. Once again, please don’t do this." Despite the fact that the video's caption reads, "Life hack # roevwade # womensrights." Trabach noted that he came across posts relating to herbal abortifacients such as pennyroyal and mugwort last month, shortly after the news about the impending Roe v. Wade decision was leaked. Searches for "pennyroyal," "blue cohosh", and "mugwort" have shot up in the past month. As per recent Google Trends data, searches for "pennyroyal abortion" have increased by 40 per cent, and searches for "blue cohosh pregnancy" grew by 70 percent over the past week. Also Read: Roe v Wade overturned: Meta, Disney to pay for employees’ abortion-related travel costs after SCOTUS ruling Though the rise in herbal abortifacients advocacy has emerged because of the rollback of the abortion rights law, they have remained available in the underground market, through herbalists and midwives, leading to those who seek such options for abortion. There are several blogs and Reddit threads that include step-by-step information on how to self-perform an abortion, and with the speed with which the misinformation is spreading, it can become threatening to lives. "Fifty years ago we didn’t have TikTok. There was some filtration in information. But now anyone can publish anything anywhere and it gets out to billions of people. It just terrifies me," says a medical expert. In the United States, the herbal supplement market is unregulated. Therefore, people can buy anything that is sold to them as herbal, and it may not be. A study by integrative medicine and women’s health specialist Fredi Kronenberg mentions that three out of 11 products that were marketed as black cohosh had no black cohosh in them. Black cohosh is used to provide relief from menopausal effects. Due to the strict content guidelines of TikTok, several videos indirectly try to share messages about how these are effective and safe alternatives to causing abortion under the disguise of keywords. Experts believe that those who are trying to provide alternatives to people in need are helping them, but these home remedies cannot replace medical treatment. Also Read: Roe v Wade overturned: US Companies that have pledged support to its female employees TikTok has not yet responded to the spread of misinformation on its platform, and it is not the first time that the platform has received criticism for letting videos containing wrong and harmful information regarding health. Rolling Stone reported that last year, TikTok came under fire for pushing the use of ivermectin medicine as a cure for the COVID disease. Ivermectin is a horse deworming medication. Meanwhile, experts said that TikTok should take control over the spread of such hazardous information on its platform. Currently, in the US, websites such as Plan C and Safe2Choose are operational that can connect with people seeking abortions at home and provide solutions like abortion pills, a much safer and more reliable option. People without any age limit can order mifepristone and misoprostol from Aid Access, which ships drugs anywhere in the US and around the world. Also Read: Roe vs Wade Overturned: Celebrities who came out with their abortion stories

Women in the US turn to TikTok's viral herbal abortion remedies as a desperate measure

<p>A TikTok video of a woman in China's Xuzhou village in Jiangsu being chained and living in horrific condictions has shocked netizens in the country.</p>

<p>The woman who reportedly has eight kids was shown chained around her neck as a vlogger filmed her as he visited the village. In the video the man offers her warm clothes as its freezing outside, however, the woman is unable to understand him.</p>

<p>Netizens were appaled after watching the video and demanded action by authorities. The video went viral on China's social networking site Weibo as users wanted to know who chained her as reports claimed Weibo shut down hashtags related to the woman.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A Douyin vlogger exposed the living conditions of this mother of eight in a small village in Xuzhou. Heartbreaking and inhumane - she was literally chained up and left out in the cold. Full story here: <a href="https://t.co/AzCHwBU6mU">https://t.co/AzCHwBU6mU</a> <a href="https://t.co/WLLhjpd4Zr">pic.twitter.com/WLLhjpd4Zr</a></p>
— Manya Koetse (@manyapan) <a href="https://twitter.com/manyapan/status/1487463235930501124?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Noticed about Dong Zhimin, the father of the woman's eight children; The venue is Huankou Town, Fengxian County, Xuzhou city, Jiangsu Province. He is suspected of trafficking in human beings, giving birth to eight children, tying a woman's neck with a dog chain😅徐州八个孩子 <a href="https://t.co/Sm7PbBlauV">pic.twitter.com/Sm7PbBlauV</a></p>
— Leave the moon poet (@LeavePoet) <a href="https://twitter.com/LeavePoet/status/1487323697073565701?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">help<br />
China XuZhou<br />
one woman tied up with chains <a href="https://t.co/yghcywDoxL">pic.twitter.com/yghcywDoxL</a></p>
— 17851976wer (@hahaha11236) <a href="https://twitter.com/hahaha11236/status/1487617396122992641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>The authorities claimed the woman had developed mental illness and engaged in violent behaviour. The family apparently decided to keep her separate from their home while putting her in a small hut. China's women's federation has now got involved in helping the family, reports said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The hashtag “official announcement regarding the circumstances of the Xuzhou woman with eight kids” went viral receiving 150 million views and thousands of comments as netizens criticised the authorities as some wondered whether she was a victim of human trafficking.</p>

<p>The woman had apparently married a man named Dong in 1998 as reports claimed he is now under investigation. Bloggers on China's social media claimed the woman has been admitted to a psychiatric hospital and the kids have been relocated, but it hasn't been confirmed by authorities.</p>

<p>(With inputs from Agencies)</p>


A TikTok video of a woman in China's Xuzhou village in Jiangsu being chained and living in horrific condictions has shocked netizens in the country. The woman who reportedly has eight kids was shown chained around her neck as a vlogger filmed her as he visited the village.

A TikTok video of a woman in China's Xuzhou village in Jiangsu being chained and living in horrific condictions has shocked netizens in the country. The woman who reportedly has eight kids was shown chained around her neck as a vlogger filmed her as he visited the village. In the video the man offers her warm clothes as its freezing outside, however, the woman is unable to understand him. Netizens were appaled after watching the video and demanded action by authorities. The video went viral on China's social networking site Weibo as users wanted to know who chained her as reports claimed Weibo shut down hashtags related to the woman. A Douyin vlogger exposed the living conditions of this mother of eight in a small village in Xuzhou. Heartbreaking and inhumane - she was literally chained up and left out in the cold. Full story here: https://t.co/AzCHwBU6mU pic.twitter.com/WLLhjpd4Zr — Manya Koetse (@manyapan) January 29, 2022 × Noticed about Dong Zhimin, the father of the woman's eight children; The venue is Huankou Town, Fengxian County, Xuzhou city, Jiangsu Province. He is suspected of trafficking in human beings, giving birth to eight children, tying a woman's neck with a dog chain😅徐州八个孩子 pic.twitter.com/Sm7PbBlauV — Leave the moon poet (@LeavePoet) January 29, 2022 × help China XuZhou one woman tied up with chains pic.twitter.com/yghcywDoxL — 17851976wer (@hahaha11236) January 30, 2022 × The authorities claimed the woman had developed mental illness and engaged in violent behaviour. The family apparently decided to keep her separate from their home while putting her in a small hut. China's women's federation has now got involved in helping the family, reports said. The hashtag “official announcement regarding the circumstances of the Xuzhou woman with eight kids” went viral receiving 150 million views and thousands of comments as netizens criticised the authorities as some wondered whether she was a victim of human trafficking. The woman had apparently married a man named Dong in 1998 as reports claimed he is now under investigation. Bloggers on China's social media claimed the woman has been admitted to a psychiatric hospital and the kids have been relocated, but it hasn't been confirmed by authorities. (With inputs from Agencies)

Woman found chained in a hut causes social media uproar in China