{"text":[[{"start":9.9,"text":"Lululemon has apologised for a yoga event staged on China’s Great Wall after it drew intense scrutiny over the purported use of a Japanese drum."}],[{"start":18.3,"text":"The Canadian athleisure company, which has grown rapidly in China, hired actor Zhu Yilong to perform at the promotional event at the end of May."}],[{"start":26.8,"text":"Lululemon issued an apology to both Zhu and the “general public” on Weibo, one of China’s biggest social media platforms, after accusations circulated that the instrument in question was Japanese."}],[{"start":38.55,"text":"“Due to limitations in our professional knowledge, we were unable to identify potential controversies,” the company said. "}],[{"start":45.599999999999994,"text":"Lululemon added it “should have been more cautious and thorough” and had removed “all related promotional content”."}],[{"start":51.49999999999999,"text":"Diplomatic tensions between China and Japan have been heightened after comments about Taiwan made by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in her first week in office late last year gave Beijing ammunition for its claims that its neighbour was becoming more belligerent."}],[{"start":66.05,"text":"The Great Wall incident is the latest sign of the risks facing foreign brands as they seek to promote their products in a market with a fast-moving social media landscape replete with cultural and political sensitivities."}],[{"start":79.8,"text":"Last year a separate controversy erupted over Arc’teryx, part of US-listed Amer Group in which China’s apparel company Anta owns a major stake. The outdoor clothing brand held a fireworks event in Tibet, sparking an online backlash. "}],[{"start":95.05,"text":"“Chinese consumers are just very hypersensitive,” said Shaun Rein, managing director of the China Market Research Group, who added that Lululemon was heavily reliant on its China operations. "}],[{"start":106,"text":"Lululemon is one of several activewear groups that have enjoyed rapid growth in China in recent years, in contrast to the recent struggles of Nike, with net revenues rising 29 per cent to $1.8bn in the year to the end of January."}],[{"start":120.5,"text":"Its net revenues have more than quadrupled since 2021. The company said in its recent annual report that it planned to “continue to invest in Mainland China”."}],[{"start":130.5,"text":"The yoga controversy drew specific scrutiny from Xu Yang, a percussionist, who posted a video analysing the drum."}],[{"start":137.6,"text":"Lululemon, which did not refer to the drum’s provenance in its apology, said its Great Wall yoga event was “grounded in a commitment to honoring Chinese culture”."}],[{"start":147.2,"text":"“We deeply value the feedback received and recognize that we should have been more thoughtful and sensitive in our planning and review process for the drum performance,” the company said. “This has been a valuable learning for us, and we extend our sincerest apologies.”"}],[{"start":162.04999999999998,"text":"On its Weibo post users expressed sympathy for actor Zhu, with several simply citing his name followed by the expression “wu wang zhi zai” — an idiom that refers to an unexpected calamity or undeserved bad luck."}],[{"start":175.45,"text":"Last month Lululemon agreed to overhaul its board as part of a peace deal with its founder and largest active shareholder Chip Wilson. He has for years complained of the company’s underperformance since leaving the board in 2015."}],[{"start":188.7,"text":"Shares have fallen 45 per cent in New York this year amid rising competition from new rivals, questions over quality control and a pullback in consumer spending."}],[{"start":199.29999999999998,"text":"Additional reporting by Wenjie Ding in Beijing"}],[{"start":210,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1781692603_2653.mp3"}