Pro-Democracy Artist’s HK Show Canceled

The ostensible reason for the cancellation, according to a press release issued by Lancome Hong Kong, was “possible security” issues. According to Hong Kong Free Press, Canto-pop singer-actress Denise Ho was a vocal supporter of Hong Kong’s Occupy movement in 2014, and as a result has been banned from performing in mainland China.

Pro-Beijing forces took to the Internet when they learned Ho would appear at the Lancome event, blasting both Lancome and mouthwash brand Listerine, which also uses Ho as a spokesperson, and calling for a boycott. The trolling is believed to be in response to social media posts by state media outlet The Global Times, which labeled Ho “pro-Hong Kong Independence” and “pro-Tibetan independence.” Before the cancellation, Lancome also issued a statement saying that “Denise Ho is not a spokesperson of Lancome.”

The announcement of the cancellation garnered 17,000 “likes” on social media site Weibo as of June 6. Listerine, which was slated to co-sponsor the June 19 concert, said it would continue to use Ho, who is also openly lesbian, as its official “face,” according to some media reports, though the Los Angeles Times reports the company has not released an official statement on the matter. Ho was not in Hong Kong when the Lancome announcement came down but the next morning released a statement on Facebook saying that “Lancome’s decision is misleading to the public, and damaging to my reputation.”

She went on to say that it was regretful that an “international brand” like Lancome would “yield to this [kind of] bullying.” According to the Times, China is the fastest-growing market in Asia for Lancome’s parent company, L’Oreal. Lancome’s own Facebook page has since been flooded with angry comments from Hong Kong residents who have vowed to boycott the brand themselves.