The case of Lancôme and the politicization of China’s vast market.
By Kerry Brown
THE DIPLOMAT - June 13, 2016
If Denise Ho wasn’t a high profile figure beyond the fans of Cantopop
outside of Hong Kong before, the claimed antics of one of the companies
that sponsors events she is associated with over the last few weeks
have ensured that she now has global profile. French cosmetics giant
Lancôme reportedly scrapped a promotional event
at which she was due to sing in the city this month due to her clearly
stated support for both the Occupy Central movement of two years ago,
and a meeting she held with the Dalai Lama.
Politicians and celebrities (when the latter are not trying to morph
into the former) always have a tetchy relationship with each other. In
the halcyon days of British New Labour two decades ago, the then-Prime
Minister Tony Blair, capitalizing on his photogenic youth and
popularity, got involved with an ill-advised “Cool Britannia” fad. A
number of receptions which pitched image-obsessed leaders against
unruly, often ungrateful and unpredictable pop stars and actresses
followed, culminating however in the iconic scene of the then-deputy
prime minister, John Prescott, having a bowl of ice water dumped over
his head by one of the over-exuberant “golden youth” singers he was
trying to court. After that point, the two groups happily retreated to
their own realms – the politicians largely did the politics, and
celebrities got on with creating and entertaining. Modern societies,
after all, should have plenty of space for both groups.
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