“Winnie the Pooh memes banned in China because they're an insult to Xi Jinping,” Tesla critic Brad Munich posted.
Elon Musk tweeted a parody video of an AI fashion show featuring himself, Bill Gates, and other celebrities.
The video includes a brief but controversial appearance of Xi Jinping dressed in a robe featuring a cartoon bear that closely resembles Winnie-the-Pooh.
President Xi Jinping's brief two-second appearance is a risky move given Tesla's business in China.
Tesla's sales in the country have fallen recently and future sales are dependent on government approval.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk shared the video on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
The video, set to Enya's “Only Time,” sees world leaders walking down a fashion runway in humorous outfits that reflect their national histories or current news topics.
For example, former President Bill Clinton will appear in a blue tulle dress, a reference to Monica Lewinsky's infamous blue outfit.
But one image showing Xi Jinping in a robe with a Winnie-the-Pooh-like character and the initials “CCP” (Chinese Communist Party) is particularly provocative.
In China, dissidents have long used the beloved character to ridicule President Xi Jinping, but the comparison is considered taboo and last year a horror film based on “Winnie-the-Pooh” was pulled from theaters in Hong Kong and Macau, supposedly due to Chinese censors.
The video was tweeted by Musk on Sunday, leaving little time to gauge China's reaction.
Tesla critic Brad Munich highlighted the potential financial impact for Tesla.
“Winnie-the-Pooh memes are banned in China because they are an insult to Xi Jinping, who allegedly resembles Winnie-the-Pooh,” he tweeted.
“TSLA built their most profitable factories in China, which generated 70% of their global profits in 2023. Anyone who tweets this recklessly must be on drugs.”
According to the New York Times, Tesla's Shanghai factory has surpassed its Fremont, California, factory to become the company's largest and most productive, making it crucial to the company's profitability.
Musk's provocative behavior raises questions about who can rein in his actions and the potential impact they have on Tesla's business interests.
