A Chinese cosmetics brand has stirred controversy by releasing a new lipstick designed in the shape of male genitalia, sparking widespread outrage and criticism online.
FLORTTE, a Chinese cosmetics brand aimed at teenagers and young adults, recently unveiled its new lipstick product advertisement. The ad features a female model kneeling next to the lipstick, designed to resemble male genitalia, with the tip shaped like an upside-down heart. The product is priced at 45 yuan (approximately $6.20) and has reportedly sold around 30,000 units.
The controversy began when a blogger, Bunny Class, with 5 million followers, shared the lipstick on her social media, calling it “excessively teasing.”
Criticism quickly followed, with many accusing the ad of objectifying women. Feng Yuan, co-founder of Equality, a Beijing-based NGO focused on gender equality, stated, “Employing a male gaze that presents women as sexual objects for male pleasure will likely alienate women who have an increasing self-awareness. This approach often leads to feelings of disgust, anger, and resistance.”
The backlash was further fueled by the names of the lipstick shades, such as “Kiss Little Juju,” “Kiss Neinei,” “Kiss Cherry,” and “Kiss Mimi,” which intensified the backlash. In Chinese, juju, neinei, cherry, and mimi typically refer to male and female genitalia.
As the controversy intensified, the brand’s customer service department responded that their team was unaware of the issue and would escalate it to experts for further verification.
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