Lululemon Faces Backlash for Cultural Misstep at Yoga Event
WHO:
CNN - Zhu Yilong's studio urged Lululemon to “verify the entire process and to review, analyze, and follow up on the matter.”
Fast Company - Zhu Yilong participated in a drum troupe at the event and posted an image of himself with the drum on Weibo.
CNN - Lululemon, a Canadian athleisure company, faced backlash.
CNN - Chinese actor Zhu Yilong was a prominent guest at the event.
CNN - Xu Yang, a Chinese percussionist, commented on the drum used at the event.
WHAT:
Fast Company - Lululemon stated, "We attach great importance to the feedback from the society," in their apology.
CNN - Lululemon vowed to “learn profound lessons” and to adopt “a more rigorous attitude” in future events.
Bloomberg Markets - The backlash highlighted the reputational risks facing Lululemon in its fastest-growing major market.
CNN - Lululemon's event gained traction as it reached over 50 million views on Weibo by Monday, according to Global Times.
Fast Company - Lululemon issued an apology via its Weibo account, stating, "We attach great importance to the feedback from the society."
CNN - Lululemon organized a yoga festival on the Great Wall of China.
CNN - The event took place on May 30, with over 2,000 guests participating.
CNN - Lululemon issued an apology and scrubbed its campaign following the backlash.
CNN - The drum used at the event was initially described as a traditional Chinese drum but was later identified as resembling a Japanese Taiko drum.
CNN - The drum controversy garnered over 50 million views on Weibo.
WHERE:
CNN - The yoga festival was held on the Great Wall of China.
WHEN:
CNN - The yoga festival occurred on May 30.
WHY:
CNN - The drum controversy evoked memories of Japanese imperialism and wartime brutality, which is a sensitive topic in China.
Fast Company - Social media users criticized Lululemon for the drum mixup, calling it "insulting and inappropriate."
CNN - The backlash was fueled by nationalistic sentiments in China, particularly under the leadership of Xi Jinping.
CNN - The use of the Japanese drum evoked memories of Japanese imperialism and wartime brutality, which is a sensitive topic in China.
HOW:
CNN - The HIIKO Drum Troupe that performed at the event issued its own apology on Tuesday, stating that “all external promotion and use of the controversial drums have been suspended.”
CNN - Lululemon acknowledged its lack of professional knowledge in identifying potential controversies early in the planning process.
CNN - Lululemon acknowledged limitations in their professional knowledge regarding cultural sensitivities in their planning process.
CNN - The HIIKO Drum Troupe, which performed at the event, issued an apology and suspended all external promotion of the controversial drums.
(UPDATED June 18, 2026 04:20 UTC)
Zhu Yilong's studio has called on Lululemon to thoroughly verify and follow up on a recent controversy involving the HIIKO Drum Troupe, which has drawn significant backlash due to its sensitive historical implications. In response, Lululemon expressed its commitment to learning from the incident and emphasized the importance of societal feedback in their apology, while the drum troupe has suspended all external promotion of the controversial drums. This situation has underscored the reputational risks Lululemon faces in its fastest-growing major market, as it navigates the complexities of cultural sensitivities.
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(UPDATED June 17, 2026 23:27 UTC)
Lululemon's recent event has sparked significant attention, amassing over 50 million views on Weibo, but it faced backlash from social media users who criticized the company for a drum mixup, labeling it "insulting and inappropriate." In response, Lululemon issued an apology on Weibo, emphasizing their commitment to valuing societal feedback, while also acknowledging their shortcomings in recognizing potential controversies during the planning phase. Meanwhile, actor Zhu Yilong participated in a drum troupe at the event and shared a photo of himself with the drum on Weibo.
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(UPDATED June 17, 2026 19:46 UTC)
Lululemon is facing significant backlash after organizing a yoga festival on the Great Wall of China, which took place on May 30 and attracted over 2,000 guests. The controversy arose when a drum used at the event, initially described as traditional Chinese, was later identified as resembling a Japanese Taiko drum, evoking sensitive historical memories for many in China. In response to the criticism, Lululemon issued an apology and removed their campaign, while the HIIKO Drum Troupe also apologized and suspended all external promotion of the drums.