Huawei 'Public Toilet' Meme Sparks Outrage, Sign Removed

A public toilet sign in Shanghai, China, inadvertently pointing towards a Huawei flagship store, has become an internet sensation and a source of online controversy. The visual gag, which emerged due to a specific camera angle, quickly went viral on Chinese social media platforms like Weibo.

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Public facilities can be removed just like that.

Netizens, inspired by the "Huawei Public Toilet" meme, flocked to the location to take photos and share them online. The situation drew parallels to a previous "Bamboo Cicada" incident involving Huawei, where the company's attempt to suppress online content only amplified public mockery. In that earlier case, a sound from a traditional Chinese toy, "Bamboo Cicada," was humorously linked to exaggerated sound effects from a Huawei product launch, leading to widespread online ridicule.

However, the "Huawei Public Toilet" meme took a different turn when the offending sign was reportedly removed less than a week after gaining popularity. Reports also emerged of security personnel preventing people from taking photos at the site. This action has sparked further criticism from netizens, who view the removal as an attempt to cover up the situation, ironically drawing more attention to it.

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A private company can already interfere with municipal facility construction.

Critics argue that public signage should serve its intended purpose and that removing it due to an internet joke is "worse than hiding it." Some netizens expressed their disapproval of the tech giant's perceived influence, with comments like "Huawei is really something, public facilities can be removed just like that" and "A private company can already interfere with municipal facility construction." The incident has led to calls for boycotting Huawei products.

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It's worse than hiding it.