An influencer is facing a hefty fine after she posted a negative product review without consent from the company.
Social media influencer ‘lianggexiaoduan’ went viral on February 4 when she criticized a pair of underwear. The garment was purchased from the popular retail chain, Pangdonglai, located in China.
The influencer allegedly had an allergic reaction to the underwear, leading her to be treated at a nearby hospital. She also said the product’s color faded after washing it and claimed representatives from the brand didn’t thoroughly support her about the apparent issue with its product.
Though Pangdonglai awarded the influencer $70 and covered her medical bills, the company is now asking her to pay them 1 million yuan (about $137K) for infringing on the brand via social media.
To prove the underwear wasn’t faulty, the company removed the product from its shelves and sent it to three quality inspection agencies in different provinces.
All three agencies came back with the same conclusion, saying there was nothing wrong with the underwear, leading Pangdonglai to continue the product’s sales.
The influencer faces a fine of $137K for posting a negative underwear review without permission.
Pangdonglai issues 53-page report about pair of underwear
The company also ran an internal investigation to ensure their customer service was consistent and reliable. Though Pangdonglai found their employees weren’t as attentive as they hoped, the company retrained the workers for better customer satisfaction.
Not only that, but Pangdonglai contacted the maker of the underwear, Funalai, and issued them an apology for the potential financial losses from the influencer’s video. All of the findings can be found in a 53-page report from the company.
As for the influencer, Pangdonglai will reportedly go the distance in legal proceedings to make sure she didn’t break enforceable guidelines when she posted her review. It will then be up to the court to determine if the influencer will have to pay the $137K fine.
Just last year, another influencer filed a lawsuit against a TikToker who was imitating the aesthetic of her page. The influencer asked the court to consider her demand for $150K for lost income.