Shein has pledged to “cooperate fully” with French judicial authorities amid outrage over the sale of childlike sex dolls on its platform, just as the fast-fashion giant prepares to open its first
permanent physical store in the world at Paris’s BHV department store on Wednesday.
Quentin Ruffat, Shein’s spokesperson in France, told RMC radio that the company was ready to provide investigators with the identities of customers who purchased the dolls. “We will be completely transparent with the authorities,” he said, calling the situation “serious, unacceptable, intolerable” and blaming it on a failure in the company’s oversight systems.
The Paris prosecutor’s office has opened investigations targeting Shein and rival online retailers AliExpress, Temu and Wish for distributing content that is “violent, pornographic or improper, and accessible to minors.” The probes follow a report from France’s anti-fraud agency, which found Shein had listed childlike sex dolls for sale. One example published by French media showed a doll roughly 80 centimeters tall holding a teddy bear, alongside an explicit caption.
Following the revelations, Shein announced a blanket ban on sex-doll products and said it had removed all related listings.
Backlash ahead of Paris store opening
Even before the scandal, Shein’s arrival in the heart of Paris had stirred controversy. Critics fear the ultra-fast-fashion retailer will deal another blow to traditional shops already struggling with layoffs and closures. “Shein in France. Who can stop it?” asked the left-leaning daily Libération.
Frédéric Merlin, head of the group that owns BHV, acknowledged he briefly considered cancelling the partnership. “It’s despicable,” he told RTL, describing the online sale of such items as “sickening.” He ultimately decided to proceed, citing Shein’s cooperation with authorities. He also dismissed what he called the “general hypocrisy” surrounding a brand that counts 25 million customers in France.
Political and public pressure mounts
France’s high commissioner for childhood, Sarah El Hairy, condemned the dolls as “paedophile objects,” warning that predators sometimes use them to “practise before moving on to abusing children.” Ruffat said Shein’s leadership shared her concerns and was ready to discuss the issue further.
Finance Minister Roland Lescure has threatened to ban Shein from the French market if similar items reappear on its site.
On Monday, child-protection advocates protested outside BHV. “Shame on Shein,” read one sign. Arnaud Gallais, co-founder of the Mouv’Enfants association, said the company must be held accountable: “Shein has to pay, politically speaking.” Photo by DMCGN, Wikimedia commons.