Shanghai Auto Show: Mini responds to Chinese ice cream racism uproar
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.
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”.
In a statement posted on Chinese social media platform Weibo, Mini China said it had given out a total of 600 ice creams during 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.
“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.
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.
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.
“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.
“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.
“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.
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.
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.
Earlier that year, a Chinese snack brand also drew criticism for using a model with narrow eyes in its advertisements.
生词记录
uproar 骚动，怨愤，嘈杂
racism 种族主义，种族歧视
portion 一部分，一份
reserve 保留，把···专门留给；贮藏，储备
on-site 在工地的，在现场的
badge 徽章，纪念章，证章
lapse 过失，失误；间隔时间
specify 具体说明，明确指出
magnify 夸张，放大
ideological 意识形态上的，思想体系上的
vendor 小贩，摊主，卖主
label 公司，公司名称，品牌商品
makeup 化妆品
collection 收藏品，作品集，一系列新作品
cultural appropriation 文化挪用
个人感悟
其实这些国外的公司都是惯犯的了，嘴上说的好听都是因为不能放弃中国市场罢了，说到底一切都是利益。高明点的就会言行一致，不轻易被抓到把柄；最可恶的就是说一套做一套，口不对心。
都说互联网没有记忆，虽然这次宝马事件闹得沸沸扬扬，不过我猜过不了多长时间很多人就会遗忘，该买的人还是会买的，然后继续受人歧视，就如当年的Adidas和Nike事件，现在的人不照样抢着买？呵呵，反正我是不会买的，做好自己就行。
