Influencers face backlash for visiting and praising Shein factory in China during a PR trip

A group of American influencers is facing accusations of selling out. The accusations are coming after the influencers accepted sponsorships to travel to China and boost the image of a Chinese fashion brand, which has been under scrutiny for allegations of forced labor and other human rights abuses.

The online retailer in question is Shein, which has experienced a surge in popularity in recent months due to its wide range of products and affordable prices. However, the company has faced repeated accusations of violating Chinese labor laws.

In an attempt to combat its negative public relations, Shein has reportedly begun sending U.S. Instagram influencers on tours of its factories. The tour, followed by “an epic night cruise to admire Guangzhou’s amazing skyline,” is prompting content creators to regurgitate company lines to their hundreds of thousands of followers, as reported by The Daily Beast.

In their social media posts, the influencers expressed excitement and admiration for the working conditions they observed during the factory tours.

The videos subsequently received millions of views and sparked significant backlash on Twitter.

Critics accused Shein of producing propaganda, with one user comparing the tactics to those employed during World War II.

Another user claimed that China was “paying American influencers to visit sweatshops and verify that everything was fine.”

In May, a U.S. congressional commission called out Shein and Temu in a report that suggested the companies and others in China were potentially linked to the use of forced labor, exploitation of trade loopholes, product safety hazards or intellectual property theft.

The United States has already banned imported goods from the Xinjiang region due to concerns over forced labor and China’s treatment of the Uyghur ethnic minority.

Shein has denied any violations of human rights.

In a statement, Shein said the company’s “policy is to comply with the customs and import laws of the countries in which we operate.” It also said it has “zero tolerance” for forced labor and has implemented a robust system to ensure compliance with U.S. law.