Elon Musk recently tweeted a parody video featuring an AI fashion show that includes himself, Bill Gates, and other high-profile figures.
The video controversially features a brief appearance of Xi Jinping dressed in a robe with a cartoon bear that resembles Winnie the Pooh.
This depiction, lasting only two seconds, is particularly risky given Tesla’s operations in China, where the company has faced recent declines in sales and where its future market presence depends on government approval.
Shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Musk, the video is set to Enya’s “Only Time” and humorously presents world leaders in fashion show outfits that reflect their histories or recent news. For example, former President Bill Clinton is depicted in a blue tulle dress, alluding to Monica Lewinsky’s infamous blue dress.
The portrayal of Xi Jinping in a Pooh-like robe and with the acronym “CCP” (Chinese Communist Party) is especially provocative. In China, using Winnie the Pooh to mock Jinping is a sensitive issue, with such references being so controversial that a Winnie the Pooh horror film was pulled from theaters in Hong Kong and Macau last year due to Chinese censorship.
The video was posted by Musk on Sunday, leaving little time to gauge the reaction from China.
Tesla critic Brad Munchen warned of potential financial repercussions for Tesla. “Winnie the Pooh memes are banned in China because they insult Xi Jinping, who some say resembles Pooh,” he tweeted. “China is where $TSLA built its most profitable factory, which generated 70% of global profits in 2023. One must be out of their mind to tweet something this reckless.”
Tesla’s Shanghai factory, now larger and more productive than the Fremont, California facility, is essential to Tesla’s profitability, according to The New York Times. Musk’s provocative actions raise concerns about their impact on Tesla’s business interests and whether anyone can moderate his behavior.
