Lululemon apologizes after China event sparks backlash over drum performance

Lululemon apologized after a May 30 yoga festival at Beijing’s Huanghuacheng Water Great Wall turned into an online fight over a drum performance featuring Chinese actor and brand ambassador Zhu Yilong. The event, billed as “Yoga Meets the Great Wall” to mark Lululemon’s 10th year in mainland China, drew more than 2,000 participants and mixed yoga, Tai Chi and cultural programming.

Critics on Chinese social media said the barrel-shaped drum, with crossed red-rope bindings and an angled stand, looked more like a Japanese taiko than a traditional Chinese dagu. Some users also said a rehearsal post on Xiaohongshu had labeled the instrument “taiko” before it was deleted, sharpening the backlash around a brand that has leaned heavily on community events and ambassador-led marketing in China.

Lululemon said on Weibo that it had intended to honor Chinese culture but failed to spot the problem earlier because of “limitations in professional knowledge.” The company apologized to the public and to Zhu, then removed related promotional material. Zhu Yilong’s studio asked the brand to verify the full planning process, while the HiiKo Drum Group apologized and said it had suspended use and promotion of the controversial drums.

The incident lands at a sensitive moment for Lululemon’s China business. In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, China Mainland net revenue reached $478.4 million, or 19% of total net revenue, and rose 23% on a constant-dollar basis, according to Lululemon’s earnings supplement. For store educators, assistant store managers and local leaders, that level of reliance means a cultural mistake does not stay on social media; it can spill into customer conversations, event planning and the trust built around ambassador programs and in-market activations.