Add Naomi Osaka’s new company to the Marketing Blunders Hall of Fame.
The tennis star announced earlier this week that she has partnered with Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James’s SpringHill to start a media company. She expessed the hope that it would produce TV shows, documentaries and branded content.
The name of the new venture, Osaka said, was Hana Kuma, which she claimed means “flower bear” in Japanese.
It didn’t take long for the Japanese-Haitian Osaka to discover it had another meaning in Swahili, where it translates to “Woman without a vagina.” An estimated 200 million people speak Swahili, the majority in East Africa.
Dozens of Twitter users in Africa piled on, urging Osaka to reconsider the name, which many called offensive.
Osaka’s venture isn’t the first company to make such a lost in translation error.
One of the most famous was chicken producer Frank Perdue,...
The tennis star announced earlier this week that she has partnered with Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James’s SpringHill to start a media company. She expessed the hope that it would produce TV shows, documentaries and branded content.
The name of the new venture, Osaka said, was Hana Kuma, which she claimed means “flower bear” in Japanese.
It didn’t take long for the Japanese-Haitian Osaka to discover it had another meaning in Swahili, where it translates to “Woman without a vagina.” An estimated 200 million people speak Swahili, the majority in East Africa.
Dozens of Twitter users in Africa piled on, urging Osaka to reconsider the name, which many called offensive.
Osaka’s venture isn’t the first company to make such a lost in translation error.
One of the most famous was chicken producer Frank Perdue,...
- 6/24/2022
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Similar News
“Poor Jokić! Can therapy help him?”: Despicable Me 4 Pulls Out the Greatest Marketing Move Yet With a Promo That Makes Nikola Jokić Look Like Gru
- 4/21/2024
- by Hashim Asraff
- FandomWire
Rita Moreno Says She Was “Astonished” by Lenny Kravitz’s Reaction to Meeting Her
- 4/18/2024
- by Carly Thomas
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Reporter Apologizes For Inappropriate Comments To Caitlin Clark
- 4/18/2024
- by Shawn Lealos
- TV Shows Ace
How to Watch the 2024 NBA Playoffs Without Cable
- 4/24/2024
- by Oscar Hartzog
- Rollingstone.com
‘The Big Cigar’ Trailer: André Holland Goes Undercover in Hollywood
- 4/24/2024
- by Proma Khosla
- Indiewire
How to Watch the Lakers vs. Nuggets NBA Playoff Series Online
- 4/23/2024
- by John Lonsdale
- Rollingstone.com
Diddy's Son, Christian 'King' Combs, Describes Paris Hilton Dance
- 4/20/2024
- by Lauren Weiler
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Challengers Was Inspired By One Of The Most Controversial Tennis Matches Of All Time
- 4/13/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Former Ftx Crypto Chief Sam Bankman-Fried Sentenced To 25 Years In Prison
- 3/28/2024
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.
More to explore
‘Wednesday’ Season 2 Casts Thandiwe Newton (Exclusive)
- 4/23/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
Terry Carter, ‘Battlestar Galactica’ and ‘McCloud’ Actor, Dies at 95
- 4/23/2024
- by Lexi Carson
- Variety - Film News
‘Mary Jane’ Theater Review: Rachel McAdams Makes a Moving Broadway Debut in Amy Herzog’s Portrait of Motherhood Under Duress
- 4/24/2024
- by Lovia Gyarkye
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Why It’s Never Been Easier to Land in Director’s Jail
- 4/24/2024
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Where to Watch the ‘Bluey’ Bonus Episode ‘Surprise’ Online
- 4/24/2024
- by Danielle Directo-Meston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Julio Torres’s “Problemista” Is Proof That The US Immigration System is a Relentless Maze
- 4/24/2024
- by Johanna Ferreira
- Popsugar.com
Chuwi Is the Voice of a New Puerto Rican Generation
- 4/23/2024
- by Juan Arroyo
- Popsugar.com
Camila Mendes on Why We Need More Latine Representation in Rom-Coms
- 4/22/2024
- by Brenda Barrientos
- Popsugar.com
Saraciea Fennell: "The Black Girl Survives in This One" Is the Representation I Didn't See in Horror Books
- 4/22/2024
- by Saraciea Fennell
- Popsugar.com
Tell Me Más: Bodine Talks New Album "Quemo Lento" and Growing From Hardships
- 4/22/2024
- by Juan Arroyo
- Popsugar.com
‘At The Sea’: Amy Adams To Star In New Family Drama From ‘Pieces Of A Woman’ Director Kornel Mundruczó
- 4/24/2024
- by Christopher Marc
- The Playlist
Let’s Do the Zack Snyder Math on ‘Rebel Moon — Part Two’ Netflix Viewership
- 4/24/2024
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
Brian Helgeland Shares Details On David Fincher’s Unmade ‘Cleopatra’ Film Almost Starring Angelina Jolie
- 4/24/2024
- by Christopher Marc
- The Playlist
‘The Big Cigar’ Trailer: André Holland Goes Undercover in Hollywood
- 4/24/2024
- by Proma Khosla
- Indiewire
Cormac McCarthy’s ‘Blood Meridian’ Being Adapted by ‘Gladiator’ Writer John Logan
- 4/24/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
‘At The Sea’: Amy Adams To Star In New Family Drama From ‘Pieces Of A Woman’ Director Kornel Mundruczó
- 4/24/2024
- by Christopher Marc
- The Playlist
Let’s Do the Zack Snyder Math on ‘Rebel Moon — Part Two’ Netflix Viewership
- 4/24/2024
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
Brian Helgeland Shares Details On David Fincher’s Unmade ‘Cleopatra’ Film Almost Starring Angelina Jolie
- 4/24/2024
- by Christopher Marc
- The Playlist
Netflix's Best New Show Teaches Us A Hard Lesson About The Streamer's Worst Habits
- 4/24/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
John Logan boards ‘Blood Meridian’ adaptation for New Regency
- 4/24/2024
- ScreenDaily
‘Wednesday’ Season 2 Casts Thandiwe Newton (Exclusive)
- 4/23/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
Terry Carter, ‘Battlestar Galactica’ and ‘McCloud’ Actor, Dies at 95
- 4/23/2024
- by Lexi Carson
- Variety - Film News
‘The Four Seasons’: Everything We Know About Tina Fey’s Netflix Series
- 4/24/2024
- TV Insider
Tina Fey and Steve Carell Will Weather The Four Seasons in New Comedy Series
- 4/24/2024
- by Jean Bentley
- Tudum - Netflix
‘The Big Cigar’ Trailer: André Holland Goes Undercover in Hollywood
- 4/24/2024
- by Proma Khosla
- Indiewire Television