Key facts
- Lululemon apologized for a promotional yoga event on China's Great Wall.
- The event featured Japanese Taiko drums, drawing criticism for not using traditional Chinese instruments.
- Actor Zhu Yilong was featured in the campaign and posted about the event.
- Lululemon cited a lack of professional knowledge for the oversight and pledged to be more cautious.
- The company has removed all related promotional content from its platforms.
Lululemon has issued an apology after a promotional yoga event held on the Great Wall of China sparked controversy for allegedly featuring Japanese Taiko drums instead of traditional Chinese instruments. The Canadian company, which is rapidly expanding in China, organized the event in late May near Beijing, advertising it as a celebration of Chinese culture and wellness. Actor Zhu Yilong was invited to perform and posted a picture of himself with one of the drums, which bore the Lululemon logo, on Weibo. Users accused the group of using Japanese taiko instruments, deeming it inappropriate and insulting. Discussions around the drums garnered over 50 million views on Weibo. Zhu's studio called on Lululemon for a response. The brand posted an apology on Weibo, stating the event was intended to pay tribute to Chinese culture and acknowledging a lack of professional knowledge led to the oversight. Lululemon pledged to learn from the incident and adopt a more rigorous approach for future events. The company has since removed all content related to the drum event from its website and social media. The Hiiko drum troupe also issued an apology. This incident highlights the risks Western brands face in China regarding domestic political and cultural sensitivities, similar to past controversies involving brands like Arc'teryx and Dolce & Gabbana.