Cui Jianbin, a host for a Hubei Television online agricultural news show, went on an on-air rampage lambasting government officials in Hubei province for building a lavish office building on 20,000 square meters of former farmland. Mr. Cui attacked officials for their excessive spending in a county that is listed as poverty-stricken and receives federal assistanceThe enraged broadcaster’s rant was finally curtailed when an off-screen colleague interjected. Mr. Cui’s final plea before the video cut to commercial (at the 1:50 mark above): “May I finish?”

The video, which was uploaded online, has gone viral, sparking heated discussion among users on Sina Weibo. Many expressed their disappointment at the obvious censorship of free speech, with one protesting, “We want a right to free speech! A right to debate openly!” Others applauded the broadcaster and demanded the broadcaster “let him finish.”