Lululemon apologizes after Japanese drum controversy at Great Wall yoga event
9 reported
Lululemon has apologized after a promotional yoga event on the Great Wall of China mistakenly featured a Japanese drum, sparking online backlash. The Canadian activewear company held the festival in late May on a section of the wall near Beijing, inviting more than 2,000 people. The event was advertised as promoting Chinese culture and wellness, according to the Chinese state-run tabloid Global Times. Chinese actor Zhu Yilong performed with a drum group, posting a picture of himself in front of a drum with the Lululemon logo on Weibo. Weibo users accused the group of using a Japanese taiko instrument instead of a Chinese dagu drum, calling it inappropriate and insulting. Lululemon posted an apology on Weibo, saying the event was intended to pay tribute to Chinese culture but that limitations in professional knowledge prevented identification of potential controversies. The company removed all related content from its website and social media, and the Hiiko drum troupe also apologized.
What’s reported
Lululemon held a yoga festival on the Great Wall of China in late May, inviting more than 2,000 people.
The event was advertised as promoting Chinese culture and wellness, per the Global Times.
Chinese actor Zhu Yilong performed with a drum group and posted a picture of a drum with the Lululemon logo on Weibo.
Weibo users accused the group of using a Japanese taiko drum instead of a Chinese dagu drum.
Drum discussions on Weibo gathered more than 50 million views by Monday.
Zhu’s studio called on Lululemon to respond to the controversy.
Lululemon apologized on Weibo on Tuesday, citing limitations in professional knowledge.
The company removed all drum-related content from its website and social media.
The Hiiko drum troupe that performed with Zhu also apologized.
Key figures
Zhu Yilong, Chinese actor
Lululemon, activewear brand
Hiiko drum troupe
Sources: The Guardian
