Xiaomi said on Tuesday that it has terminated all contact with a controversial self-media key opinion leader (KOL), dismissed those directly involved, and disciplined senior executives after a planned commercial engagement sparked strong opposition from its consumer base.
Following internal discussions, Xiaomi said the incident violated its principles and harmed its fan community. The staff member directly involved has been dismissed. Group vice-president and CMO Xu Fei and head of public relations Xu Jieyun were also both disciplined, with reduced 2025 performance evaluations and forfeited annual bonuses.
Earlier, Xu Jieyun said on social media that Xiaomi's team had previously been in contact with the KOL, adding that any potential cooperation was immediately terminated after verification and would not proceed.
The controversy began after online posts alleged that Xiaomi planned commercial cooperation with a self-media KOL, triggering a backlash from some consumers. Critics said working with an influencer who had repeatedly disparaged the brand would betray loyal supporters, with opposition voiced in the comment sections of posts by Xu Jieyun and Xiaomi founder Lei Jun.