“Why are you licking a ping pong paddle? Nike Olympic ad sparks controversy with perceived insult to Chinese people.”

, “Nike’s Olympic ad featuring an Asian model licking a table tennis paddle with his tongue is sparking controversy on the internet in China.”,

, “According to Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post (SCMP) and Chinese media on the 24th, Nike produced an ad targeting the Paris Olympics that was recently released through its official website in China. The ad features a model portraying an Asian table tennis player licking the edge of a table tennis paddle.”,

, “Narrated by Hollywood star Will Smith, the subtitles in this video say, ‘Tell me, am I someone who lives on the jealousy of others?'”

, “This ad is part of Nike’s ongoing series ‘Not All Becomes Winners’ for the upcoming Paris Olympics. The series features global athletes such as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Serena Williams, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zheng Zhiyuan, and Kylian Mbappe.”,

, “According to Chinese media, the controversial table tennis ad has sparked heated debates on Chinese social media platforms like Weibo. One netizen questioned, ‘What does it mean to lick a table tennis paddle?’ and another sarcastically commented, ‘Why would someone think a racket tastes sweet like candy?’.”,

, “Some Chinese viewers reacted with anger, claiming that the ad was deliberately created to provoke controversy and insult Chinese and Asian people. Others recalled the controversy over Xinjiang cotton a few years ago and expressed heightened responses by calling for a boycott.”,

, “Global brands such as Nike, Adidas, and H&M faced backlash from Chinese consumers after expressing concerns over forced labor allegations in Xinjiang in 2021 and stating that they would not use Xinjiang cotton. Nike has responded to inquiries from Chinese media regarding the current controversy by stating that they will relay the matter to the relevant department and provide a specific position once the results are available.”,
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, ‘[Photo Source: Yonhap News / Capture of Hong Kong South China Morning Post]’,
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