Lei Jun, who used to be known as ‘China’s Steve Jobs’, is now becoming the internet’s favorite ‘Meme CEO’.
There is an old saying: “If you throw enough mud, some of it will stick.”
This means if people keep saying bad things about someone—even if it is not true—others will start to believe them. Right now, this is exactly what is happening to Lei Jun on Chinese social media.
Everywhere you look, creators are making fun of him. It has become a “trend.” But is it just for fun? Or is it an organized attack?
Let’s look at the facts.
Lei Jun: The Hard-Working Pioneer
First, we must be fair. Lei Jun is a legend. He built a massive tech company from nothing. He is a hard worker, and he loves data. He built a company that helps millions of people. He deserves respect.
The “Mud” – Is It Real?
But lately, the internet is attacking him for everything.
Take the “small print” on his ads. People are angry because the font is too small. But wait—every big tech company in the world uses small print in their ads. Why is Lei Jun the only one getting in trouble?
It does not feel organic. It feels like a group of people is trying to make him look bad on purpose. They are “throwing mud” at him to see what sticks.
When PR Makes It Worse
To be fair, his PR team is also making big mistakes.
Remember the rural volunteer teacher? She was helping children in remote areas, but Xiaomi’s legal team sued her for “copying” the CEO. That was a PR disaster. It made them look like bullies. The public did not care about “legal rights”; they only saw a big company hurting a volunteer.
Then, there was the “noodle” event. Lei Jun went to a street shop to eat like a normal person. But his team brought a huge film crew. It looked like a fake show. The public wants to see a real person, not a staged photoshoot.
The Lesson
The internet is very smart. It smells “fake” immediately.
If you are a big company, you do not need a circus. You do not need to sue people who are just making videos, and you do not need a big camera crew to eat a bowl of noodles.
Lei Jun is a great boss, but his team needs to learn a lesson: The best PR is the kind nobody notices. If you try too hard to look “real,” you will look fake.
Stop the “mud-slinging,” and let the work speak for itself.