A Chinese social media influencer known as ‘lianggexiaoduan’ is facing potential legal troubles and a substantial fine of $137,000 after posting a negative review of underwear purchased from retail chain Pangdonglai.
The controversy began on February 4 when the influencer shared her experience with the undergarment, claiming she suffered an allergic reaction that required hospital treatment. She also expressed dissatisfaction with the product’s color fading after washing and alleged inadequate customer support from the brand.
Despite Pangdonglai initially compensating the influencer with $70 and covering her medical expenses, the company has now taken serious steps to defend its reputation. To verify the product’s quality, Pangdonglai temporarily removed the underwear from their shelves and submitted samples to three different quality inspection agencies across various provinces.
The investigation yielded comprehensive results, documented in a 53-page report. All three agencies unanimously concluded that the underwear met quality standards, leading the company to resume sales. Pangdonglai also conducted an internal review of their customer service practices, which revealed some areas for improvement, prompting staff retraining initiatives.
Taking their response further, Pangdonglai extended an apology to Funalai, the manufacturer of the underwear, for any potential financial impact resulting from the influencer’s viral review.
The retail chain is now pursuing legal action to determine whether the influencer violated any enforceable guidelines in posting her review. The court will ultimately decide if she must pay the significant fine of $137,000 for allegedly infringing on the brand’s reputation through social media.
