Alibaba Executive Apologizes for Controversial Speech to Gaming Unit Lingxi Interactive
Fan Luyuan, CEO of Alibaba Digital Media and Entertainment Group, issued a public apology on the company’s internal network following backlash over a speech delivered to employees of its gaming subsidiary, Lingxi Interactive. During a ceremony honoring five-year veterans on December 6, Fan criticized the team for failing to embody Alibaba’s corporate culture and demanded they surpass industry giants Tencent and NetEase. Leaked excerpts revealed a condescending tone, including threats of fines for phone usage and remarks suggesting Lingxi would have gone bankrupt without Alibaba’s acquisition. The speech sparked widespread criticism on Chinese social media, with users describing the tone as patronizing and disrespectful. In his apology, Fan expressed regret for hurting employees' feelings and announced he would donate three months of his salary to fund team-building activities for Lingxi. This incident highlights ongoing tensions regarding management styles and work culture within China’s tech sector, where pushback against authoritarian leadership and excessive work demands has grown. Fan aims for Lingxi to become China’s third-largest gaming company within eight years, leveraging titles like Three Kingdoms: Strategy Edition and the newly launched Ashes of the Kingdom.
Wire timeline
Alibaba Executive Apologizes for Controversial Speech to Gaming Unit Lingxi Interactive
Fan Luyuan, CEO of Alibaba Digital Media and Entertainment Group, issued a public apology on the company’s internal network following backlash over a speech delivered to employees of its gaming subsidiary, Lingxi Interactive. During a ceremony honoring five-year veterans on December 6, Fan criticized the team for failing to embody Alibaba’s corporate culture and demanded they surpass industry giants Tencent and NetEase. Leaked excerpts revealed a condescending tone, including threats of fines for phone usage and remarks suggesting Lingxi would have gone bankrupt without Alibaba’s acquisition. The speech sparked widespread criticism on Chinese social media, with users describing the tone as patronizing and disrespectful. In his apology, Fan expressed regret for hurting employees' feelings and announced he would donate three months of his salary to fund team-building activities for Lingxi. This incident highlights ongoing tensions regarding management styles and work culture within China’s tech sector, where pushback against authoritarian leadership and excessive work demands has grown. Fan aims for Lingxi to become China’s third-largest gaming company within eight years, leveraging titles like Three Kingdoms: Strategy Edition and the newly launched Ashes of the Kingdom.
TechNode