lululemon apologises over Great Wall drum stunt

Lululemon has apologised after a Great Wall event intended to celebrate Chinese culture sparked backlash over the apparent use of a Japanese taiko-style drum.

The controversy centred on a yoga festival held at Huanghuacheng Water Great Wall in Beijing’s Huairou District on 30 May, which featured Chinese actor and lululemon ambassador Zhu Yilong in a drum performance.

Lululemon said the event was designed to promote a healthy lifestyle and showcase traditional Chinese culture.

However, the performance triggered online debate after some users claimed the drum resembled a Japanese taiko drum, creating a cultural flashpoint given historical sensitivities between China and Japan.

Others defended the performance, arguing the instrument was instead a replica of a Chinese Tang Dynasty jie drum.

Lululemon released an apology on Weibo on 16 June, saying it had attached great importance to public feedback over the event.

The brand said it failed to identify potential public controversy in advance due to limitations in its professional cultural knowledge.

It also acknowledged it had lacked sufficient prudence and thoroughness during the early planning stages, and apologised to the public as well as Zhu.

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All promotional materials related to the event have since been removed from lululemon’s official platforms.

The apology drew mixed responses online.

Some users criticised lululemon for taking too long to respond after the issue first emerged, while others argued Zhu had faced unnecessary public pressure for what they saw as the brand’s planning mistake.

Zhu’s studio also issued a response, saying it had urged lululemon to conduct a full investigation into the event process after the debate began.

“The team will continue to follow up with a comprehensive review and reflection of the incident,” the studio said.

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