Lululemon brought the wrong drum to an activation. It’s the latest brand to fumble as it looks to China for growth

Lululemon experienced a significant backlash in China on Tuesday after mistakenly using Japanese Taiko drums at a promotional yoga festival on the Great Wall. The event, intended to celebrate Chinese culture and wellness with 2,000 guests, including Chinese actor Zhu Yilong, drew criticism when social media users identified the drums as Japanese rather than Chinese. Zhu Yilong's participation and a post featuring the Lululemon-branded drum on Weibo, a major Chinese social media platform, amplified the controversy. Observers on social media quickly pointed out the distinction between the Japanese and Chinese drum types, leading to widespread condemnation of Lululemon for the cultural insensitivity. Discussions surrounding the drum mix-up reportedly reached 50 million viewers, with many deeming the error insulting and inappropriate. In response to the mounting criticism, Lululemon issued an apology on its Weibo account, acknowledging a lack of professional knowledge and a failure to identify potential disputes early. The company stated it recognized the need for more thorough planning and review of the percussion performance. Lululemon also removed related videos and promotional materials from its social media accounts.