Hello Kitty maker Sanrio cuts ties with TV spy show after China backlash
Sanrio has terminated a collaboration with the Japanese TV show 'VIVANT' following backlash in China over the show's depiction of Chinese intelligence agencies. This incident highlights the increasing pressure on foreign brands to navigate sensitive political narratives in the Chinese market.
Why it matters
The move underscores the significant geopolitical risks and market sensitivities that global corporations face when operating in China.
FILE PHOTO: A display of Hello Kitty figures forms part of 'Cute', an exhibition exploring the idea of cuteness in contemporary culture, at Somerset House in London, Britain February 5, 2024. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo By Satoshi Sugiyama and John Geddie
TOKYO, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Hello Kitty maker Sanrio has cancelled a collaboration with a Japanese TV spy show after a backlash in China, the second incident in days to highlight the tightrope foreign firms and celebrities must walk in the lucrative market.
The Wednesday announcement by Sanrio's Chinese subsidiary came just after French soccer star Kylian Mbappe apologised for remarks about late Chinese leader Mao Zedong that saw several Chinese sponsors cut ties with him.
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