China’s Youngest Gold Medalist Gets Roasted for Buying iPhone – Is This Unpatriotic?

The youngest gold medalist who brought home a medal for China at the 2024 Paris Olympics is facing harsh criticism online for buying an iPhone. The backlash stems from the fact that, as a national athlete, she did not choose a domestic brand.

On Friday, a post on the Chinese social media platform Weibo revealed that Quan Hongchan, the diving sensation, had recently bought an iPhone for her mother. According to the post, Quan visited an Apple store and selected the iPhone 15 Pro Max, a high-end model with a large screen and substantial storage, recommended by store staff. She chose the white titanium version with 256GB of storage.

As this news spread, locals criticized it. Comments included: “Why didn’t a national representative buy a domestic brand like Huawei?” “Buying an iPhone is inappropriate,” and “It’s unpatriotic.”

However, voices also defended Quan, arguing that the backlash was unfair. Supporters commented, “What does it matter what brand she buys?” and “She’s spending her own money, so there’s no issue.”

Chinese state media stepped in to calm the situation as the controversy grew. Xinjingbao published a commentary stating, “While the actions of public figures can be overanalyzed, personal choices should not be subject to moral coercion. It’s an individual’s right as a consumer to choose whichever brand they prefer.” The article also emphasized, “Patriotism is rooted in deep emotions and responsibility, but linking it to consumer choices is a clear misunderstanding and misuse of nationalism.”

According to global market research firm Canalys, Apple’s iPhone shipments in China totaled 9.7 million units in the second quarter of this year, a 6.7% decrease from last year’s 10.4 million units. As a result, Apple’s market share in China dropped from 16% to 14%. Despite this decline, China’s overall smartphone market grew by 10% during the same period.