Lancome scraps Hong Kong concert with Denise Ho: online backlash over move to distance itself from pro-democracy star
Singer was invited to perform at promotional event, but cosmetics firm then said she was not its spokeswoman before cancelling the event
Pro-democracy Canto-pop star Denise Ho Wan-sze has urged cosmetics giant Lancome to explain why it cancelled a promotional concert with her after mainland internet users criticised her political stance.
The company had invited Ho to host the mini-concert in Sheung Wan on June 19. The event, which was free of charge, was fully booked.
But a day after Beijing newspaper Global Times wrote on Weibo condemning Lancome for “inviting Ho – a Hong Kong and Tibet independence advocate – to promote their products in Hong Kong”, Lancome issued two statements on Sunday. The first said Ho was not the brand’s spokeswoman, and the second that the concert would be cancelled, citing “possible safety reasons”.
On Monday afternoon, Ho wrote on her Facebook page, saying that Lancome’s statements and decision to cancel the concert had “seriously misled the public and tarnished my personal reputation”.
“I express my extreme regret [about Lancome’s announcements],” Ho wrote. “I understood that the decisions were made by the brand’s head office in France, and I urge it to come clean on the decision, to clear my name and give the public a reasonable explanation.”
“The world’s values have been seriously twisted when we have to be punished for seeking freedom, justice and equality, and we must face the problem seriously when an international brand like Lancome has to kneel down to this bullying hegemony,” she added.
