Lululemon Apologizes After Actor Beats Japanese Drum on China's Great Wall at Brand Event

Guardian—Lululemon issued an apology after a brand event held on the Great Wall of China featured an actor beating a Japanese taiko drum, sparking a fierce backlash in the country. Chinese social media users condemned the marketing stunt as culturally insensitive, with the use of a Japanese instrument at a Chinese heritage site seen as a serious provocation. The company said the imagery was a mistake and removed content related to the event. The controversy underscores the delicate cultural minefields facing global brands operating in China.

• Guardian — Guardian: Lululemon removed content and apologized following the cultural controversy.
• South China Morning Post — South China Morning Post: Lululemon's Great Wall event with Japanese drum actor drew online fury in China.
• Financial Times — Chinese backlash erupted over the Japanese instrument being played at a sacred Chinese landmark.
• Bloomberg — Lululemon apologized after a Great Wall yoga event featured an actor playing a Japanese drum.