A Pop Mart store in Shanghai.
Pop Mart is caught in a public relations crisis after a Thursday livestream sparked online backlash and sent the company's Hong Kong shares tumbling.
The incident occurred during a Thursday evening broadcast to promote a new IP accessory. While presenting the item, one staff member was heard exclaiming, "Oh my! This thing is really a bit (expensive) at 79 yuan (US$11)," followed by a colleague's reply: "It's fine, someone will still pay for it."
The unscripted exchange quickly stirred heated discussions online, with related hashtags soaring to the top of Weibo's trending list by Friday morning.
Pop Mart told Shanghai Securities News on Friday that the company has launched an urgent investigation into the incident. The source added that the employees involved would not be dismissed.
This livestream mishap comes amid recent product quality concerns for Pop Mart. Earlier, the company's new Skullpanda series was found to have a noticeable manufacturing flaw, with some items stamped with the misspelled brand name "POPMAET," leading to their prompt removal from shelves.
Pop Mart's Hong Kong shares fell 6.43 percent, trading at HK$203.60 per share, the lowest in over five months.
