https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/hello-kitty-maker-cuts-ties-with-japanese-spy-drama-after-china-backlashContinuously updated, source-cited coverage. https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/hello-kitty-maker-cuts-ties-with-japanese-spy-drama-after-china-backlashhttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/hello-kitty-maker-cuts-ties-with-japanese-spy-drama-after-china-backlash#u170436Mon, 02 Nov 2026 15:11:44 +0000Sanrio has canceled a merchandise collaboration with the Japanese television series Vivant following severe backlash and criticism from Chinese internet users and media outlets. The company also issued an apology over the tie-up. The controversy erupted because critics in China accused the spy drama of featuring torture scenes that stoke hostility. This fallout exposes the intense financial and political pressures foreign brands encounter when operating in the lucrative Chinese consumer market, where cultural missteps or perceived associations with controversial media can trigger swift commerc