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| Shanghai Auto Show: Mini responds to Chinese ice cream racism uproar | Shanghai Auto Show: Mini responds to Chinese ice cream racism uproar |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| The Mini Concept Aceman electric car at the Shanghai Auto Show | The Mini Concept Aceman electric car at the Shanghai Auto Show |
| UK-based carmaker Mini has responded to an internet uproar in China accusing it of racism at the Shanghai Auto Show. | UK-based carmaker Mini has responded to an internet uproar in China accusing it of racism at the Shanghai Auto Show. |
| A video from the event appeared to show Mini staff offering ice cream to foreigners while refusing to give it to Chinese visitors. | A video from the event appeared to show Mini staff offering ice cream to foreigners while refusing to give it to Chinese visitors. |
| Mini China, which is owned by Germany's BMW, said the workers were distributing the treats to company employees. | Mini China, which is owned by Germany's BMW, said the workers were distributing the treats to company employees. |
| However, it also said that it was "deeply sorry for the negative mood the incident brought on everyone". | However, it also said that it was "deeply sorry for the negative mood the incident brought on everyone". |
| In a statement posted on Chinese social media platform Weibo, Mini China said it had given out a total of 600 ice creams during the show on 18 and 19 April. | |
| "In addition to distributing 300 portions of ice cream per day, we also reserved a very small portion for our hardworking colleagues on-site," Mini China said. | "In addition to distributing 300 portions of ice cream per day, we also reserved a very small portion for our hardworking colleagues on-site," Mini China said. |
| "The four to five foreigners you see in the video are colleagues who are wearing employee badges," it added. | "The four to five foreigners you see in the video are colleagues who are wearing employee badges," it added. |
| The company also said the incident resulted from lapses in management and training, and called for consideration towards staff in the video. | The company also said the incident resulted from lapses in management and training, and called for consideration towards staff in the video. |
| In an earlier statement, Mini China said the giveaway was "intended to give sweetness to friends big and small". | In an earlier statement, Mini China said the giveaway was "intended to give sweetness to friends big and small". |
| BMW did not immediately respond to a BBC request for further comment on Friday. | BMW did not immediately respond to a BBC request for further comment on Friday. |
| Dior accused of racism over 'pulled eye' advert | Dior accused of racism over 'pulled eye' advert |
| BMW set to make more electric Minis in Oxford | BMW set to make more electric Minis in Oxford |
| The topic "BMW Mini" quickly became one of the top searches on Weibo, with over 93 million views. | The topic "BMW Mini" quickly became one of the top searches on Weibo, with over 93 million views. |
| The comments were largely negative. "You should have specified that the initial purpose was to give 'foreign' big and small friends sweetness," said a post that drew more than 165,000 likes. | The comments were largely negative. "You should have specified that the initial purpose was to give 'foreign' big and small friends sweetness," said a post that drew more than 165,000 likes. |
| "I feel ashamed as a Mini owner," said another user. | "I feel ashamed as a Mini owner," said another user. |
| The incident spurred one vlogger to give out ice cream in front of Mini's auto show booth. | The incident spurred one vlogger to give out ice cream in front of Mini's auto show booth. |
| "I was just angry, and I only gave it to Chinese people," he told Chinese media outlet Jimu News. | "I was just angry, and I only gave it to Chinese people," he told Chinese media outlet Jimu News. |
| However, other social media users called for calm. "Let's treat this reasonable. No matter what type of explanation [Mini gives], there are always going to be people who disagree," said a post that drew several negative reactions. | However, other social media users called for calm. "Let's treat this reasonable. No matter what type of explanation [Mini gives], there are always going to be people who disagree," said a post that drew several negative reactions. |
| "We shouldn't excessively magnify a problem to become a question of principle or an ideological issue," wrote Hu Xijin, the former editor-in-chief of state-owned newspaper Global Times. | "We shouldn't excessively magnify a problem to become a question of principle or an ideological issue," wrote Hu Xijin, the former editor-in-chief of state-owned newspaper Global Times. |
| "Let the staff learn their lessons and let their future events return to normal as much as possible. Let's avoid other vendors getting nervous because of this," he added. | "Let the staff learn their lessons and let their future events return to normal as much as possible. Let's avoid other vendors getting nervous because of this," he added. |
| Internet users in China have become increasingly vocal about the depiction of Chinese people amid rising nationalist sentiment online. | Internet users in China have become increasingly vocal about the depiction of Chinese people amid rising nationalist sentiment online. |
| Last week, French luxury label Dior was also accused of racism on Chinese social media over an advertisement showing an Asian model pulling up the corner of her eye. | Last week, French luxury label Dior was also accused of racism on Chinese social media over an advertisement showing an Asian model pulling up the corner of her eye. |
| The picture, promoting Dior's new makeup collection, was swiftly taken down. | The picture, promoting Dior's new makeup collection, was swiftly taken down. |
| This was not the first time Dior has been caught up in controversy in China, one of its biggest markets. | This was not the first time Dior has been caught up in controversy in China, one of its biggest markets. |
| In 2022, it was accused of "culturally appropriating" a Chinese traditional design for one of its skirts. | In 2022, it was accused of "culturally appropriating" a Chinese traditional design for one of its skirts. |
| Earlier that year, a Chinese snack brand also drew criticism for using a model with narrow eyes in its advertisements. | Earlier that year, a Chinese snack brand also drew criticism for using a model with narrow eyes in its advertisements. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Social media | Social media |
| Mini (BMW) | Mini (BMW) |
| BMW | BMW |
| Car industry | Car industry |
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