Japanese adult-video (AV) star Sola Aoi has been the focus of controversy again in China as pictures and videos of her being hugged by Chinese business tycoons circulated on the Internet.
On Sunday, online clothing retailer VANCL held its year-end party at the China National Convention Centre, situated at the Beijing Olympic Park. Besides noted businessmen, and celebrities like film star, and singer Li Yuchun and writer Han Han, the company also invited Sola Aoi to the party.
During the party, when Aoi walked on the stage to perform her calligraphy in Chinese, several IT elites, including VANCL's founder and CEO, Chen Nian, domestic smartphone Xiaomi's founder and CEO, Lei Jun, and famous Chinese angel investor, Xue Manzi, took their chances and hugged Aoi one after another.
They could not have expected that their embraces would strike Chinese Internet users' nerves. Some slashed at VANCL for inviting an AV actress, some believe it was a commercial stunt, while others argued that their actions were reasonable and that society should be more inclusive.
Growing controversy
"Look at the big smiles those men had while hugging her. I'll never get over that. Don't you feel disgraceful?" a Web user named "gmy" said yesterday on qq.com.
"I was speechless when I saw the pictures. With what Aoi represents, will people connect her with the host? Did the company do any market research before carrying out such a public stunt?" Xu Li, a commercial consultant in Shanghai, said on his Sina Weibo on Tuesday.
The disappointment came as previous expectation of them collapsed, analyzed Bu Yong, an assistant researcher with the Communication Institute at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
"Those IT elites, as public figures with successful business experience, shared the common image in many people's minds that they were healthy and positive. But now, some people feel they are not," Bu told the Global Times on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old Sola Aoi began her career as a teenager, featuring in adult shoots, movies and TV shows, and has accumulated a large number of fans in and out of Japan.
I
n China, pornography and adult publications are strictly prohibited. Porn is a taboo topic, especially for most parents. However, the ban has failed to deter a great number of people from turning to bootleg DVDs or downloading content.
Since 2010, Aoi formally entered the Chinese market by presenting at various commercial promotion activities. Among her numerous fans in China, she has received the nickname "Teacher Aoi", due to the lack of official sex education. Her Sina Weibo totaled 9.14 million followers as of yesterday, after opening in November 2010.
"For such a person to become so popular is a social tragedy. It displays that social morality has slipped off the edge of an abyss," said another Web user named "youth without money."
Mixed opinions
According to an online poll conducted by ifeng.com, among 9,000 participants, when asked whether they would like to see Aoi at their annual galas, 51 percent said no, 26 percent said yes, while the others expressed willingness to be an onlooker.
In comparison, results of their opinion of Aoi's presence at the VANCL party varied. About 41 percent deemed it commercial advertising, 32 percent believed it met the tastes of some individuals, while 17 percent said the company had the right to choose which ever performers it pleased.
"If a company promotes itself in such a way, it smears its customers as well and won't go far. This challenges Chinese traditional culture out of the desire for profit," said another Weibo user.
VANCL employees defended the decision to invite Aoi, saying it was made based on the opinion of all members of staff and the move displayed the company's inclusive attitude rather than tarnishing its brand.
"I think inviting Aoi to the party was a splendid plan. It has fully displayed the company's courage, boldness, and tolerance. All criticism afterward is nonsense," a female employee from VANCL, who refused to be named, told the Global Times yesterday.
"Everyone has his or her past, and we cannot deny her based solely on part of her past," she said.
Year-end parties
Bu believes that the case is far from undermining Chinese morality.
"Year-end parties are an opportunity for employees to release tension. So diversified programs are acceptable," Bu said.
"Besides, for many people, Aoi reminds them of their youth. Fans of Aoi do not necessarily adore pornography," he added.
In China, it has been a custom for companies and institutes to organize end of the year parties. At these parties, employees put on performances and have the chance to win special prizes.
Recently, photos of Liu Dong, a 23 year-old Baidu Beijing branch employee, went viral after pictures were taken of her during a fashion show at the firm's year-end party on January 9.
Some have voiced concern that the phenomenon has shown young people's morality has been corrupted. However, Zhou Xiaozheng, a professor of sociology at Renmin University, disagrees with this.
"These conclusions are baseless. It's fine as long as what they do does not violate the law or go against the main stream of economic development and social stability," Zhou told the Global Times. "Besides, China has such a large population, it's not right to judge people based on random online posts," he added.
On Sunday, online clothing retailer VANCL held its year-end party at the China National Convention Centre, situated at the Beijing Olympic Park. Besides noted businessmen, and celebrities like film star, and singer Li Yuchun and writer Han Han, the company also invited Sola Aoi to the party.
During the party, when Aoi walked on the stage to perform her calligraphy in Chinese, several IT elites, including VANCL's founder and CEO, Chen Nian, domestic smartphone Xiaomi's founder and CEO, Lei Jun, and famous Chinese angel investor, Xue Manzi, took their chances and hugged Aoi one after another.
They could not have expected that their embraces would strike Chinese Internet users' nerves. Some slashed at VANCL for inviting an AV actress, some believe it was a commercial stunt, while others argued that their actions were reasonable and that society should be more inclusive.
Growing controversy
"Look at the big smiles those men had while hugging her. I'll never get over that. Don't you feel disgraceful?" a Web user named "gmy" said yesterday on qq.com.
"I was speechless when I saw the pictures. With what Aoi represents, will people connect her with the host? Did the company do any market research before carrying out such a public stunt?" Xu Li, a commercial consultant in Shanghai, said on his Sina Weibo on Tuesday.
The disappointment came as previous expectation of them collapsed, analyzed Bu Yong, an assistant researcher with the Communication Institute at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
"Those IT elites, as public figures with successful business experience, shared the common image in many people's minds that they were healthy and positive. But now, some people feel they are not," Bu told the Global Times on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old Sola Aoi began her career as a teenager, featuring in adult shoots, movies and TV shows, and has accumulated a large number of fans in and out of Japan.
I
n China, pornography and adult publications are strictly prohibited. Porn is a taboo topic, especially for most parents. However, the ban has failed to deter a great number of people from turning to bootleg DVDs or downloading content.
Since 2010, Aoi formally entered the Chinese market by presenting at various commercial promotion activities. Among her numerous fans in China, she has received the nickname "Teacher Aoi", due to the lack of official sex education. Her Sina Weibo totaled 9.14 million followers as of yesterday, after opening in November 2010.
"For such a person to become so popular is a social tragedy. It displays that social morality has slipped off the edge of an abyss," said another Web user named "youth without money."
Mixed opinions
According to an online poll conducted by ifeng.com, among 9,000 participants, when asked whether they would like to see Aoi at their annual galas, 51 percent said no, 26 percent said yes, while the others expressed willingness to be an onlooker.
In comparison, results of their opinion of Aoi's presence at the VANCL party varied. About 41 percent deemed it commercial advertising, 32 percent believed it met the tastes of some individuals, while 17 percent said the company had the right to choose which ever performers it pleased.
"If a company promotes itself in such a way, it smears its customers as well and won't go far. This challenges Chinese traditional culture out of the desire for profit," said another Weibo user.
VANCL employees defended the decision to invite Aoi, saying it was made based on the opinion of all members of staff and the move displayed the company's inclusive attitude rather than tarnishing its brand.
"I think inviting Aoi to the party was a splendid plan. It has fully displayed the company's courage, boldness, and tolerance. All criticism afterward is nonsense," a female employee from VANCL, who refused to be named, told the Global Times yesterday.
"Everyone has his or her past, and we cannot deny her based solely on part of her past," she said.
Year-end parties
Bu believes that the case is far from undermining Chinese morality.
"Year-end parties are an opportunity for employees to release tension. So diversified programs are acceptable," Bu said.
"Besides, for many people, Aoi reminds them of their youth. Fans of Aoi do not necessarily adore pornography," he added.
In China, it has been a custom for companies and institutes to organize end of the year parties. At these parties, employees put on performances and have the chance to win special prizes.
Recently, photos of Liu Dong, a 23 year-old Baidu Beijing branch employee, went viral after pictures were taken of her during a fashion show at the firm's year-end party on January 9.
Some have voiced concern that the phenomenon has shown young people's morality has been corrupted. However, Zhou Xiaozheng, a professor of sociology at Renmin University, disagrees with this.
"These conclusions are baseless. It's fine as long as what they do does not violate the law or go against the main stream of economic development and social stability," Zhou told the Global Times. "Besides, China has such a large population, it's not right to judge people based on random online posts," he added.
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