Bad news for Taiwanese host Dee Hsu after a recent Instagram post saw multiple brands dissociating themselves from her and her 14-year-old daughter, Elly Hsu.
Like everyone else caught up in the Olympic frenzy, Dee Hsu who was ecstatic over Olympian Tai Tzu-ying’s match has taken to social media to express how much she adored the badminton player. In response to a comment, she wrote, “My husband said: baby, my friend said you wanted to treat all the national athletes to a meal at home?“
While it may sound innocuous to some, Dee’s comment appears to have landed her in hot water due to her reference to athletes competing for Chinese Taipei as national athletes. Mainland Chinese Netizens reacting with outrage to her words deemed the reference as inappropriate because of its underlying “pro Taiwan independence” connotations.
The backlash doesn’t just end there. Aside from the fallout online, Dee’s post also saw several brands like ready-to-drink brand Shouquanzhai and shampoo brand Clear cutting their endorsements with her. In a statement issued, Shouquanzhai said national interests are above all else and that they resolutely support the one-China policy. As such, the brand also confirmed they have already terminated their partnership with Dee Hsu. Likewise, online clothing retailer Jorya also followed suit, revealing yesterday that its partnership with Elly Hsu has already “expired”.
National interests are above all else, and we firmly support the one-China policy.
Source: 1
Nonny
What’s she supposed to call them? Provincial athletes?
Ffs are China going to get mad at Taiwan because they call Mandarin the “national language” too?
anon
The issue blew up because the athlete herself is pro-independence, not so much because of what S said in her reply. That was only highlighted after she delivered her congratulations. That said, I don’t know what people are expecting, I’d think that more than 90% of Taiwanese are in favour of independence and that should be a pretty well known fact by now. Most Taiwanese stars are either outrightly or silently pro-independence.
Also, if China really want to, they can just cancel all the Taiwanese stars instead of making a brouhaha over this all the time. They are miles ahead by now in terms of the recognisability and bankability of their home-grown celebs, so they really have no “need” for old school TW stars.
Seriously
Stand up for democracy and independence over money and greed. Take their endorsements and shove it up their one communie nation rhetoric.
HL
Well if she really really going to stand up for her beliefs and shove off China endorsements, why did she even agree to be endorsed by them in the first place? China has always been very clear where they stand. Dee Hus should not have even have accepted the job…. Just contradicting herself.
Atticus
Good lord, they are so sensitive. Is their government so unstable and fragile that they feel the need to ostracize a celeb over something as trivial as this?
4ever
Wow. CCP is pathelic. Support Taiwan is a Country. Hope to Free Hong Kong.
June Fourth Nineteen Eighty Nine
Why does West Taiwan always gets upset and/or sensitive to matters of the beautiful country of Taiwan??