Rumors that retail company Shein is closing have left fans worried.
Fortunately, the claim that the clothing company is closing is just part of a hoax, and the brand isn't going anywhere.
Why is “Shein Closing 2024” trending?
The phrase “Shein 2024 Closing” started trending after false rumors that the brand was shutting down spread online.
This query peaked several times in Google Trends starting in December 2023, and rose to prominence again in mid-February 2024.
Despite the rumors on social media, there is absolutely no truth to it.
Speculation that the brand might be shut down dates back to 2020 at X, formerly known as Twitter.
TikTok users also jumped on the trend, fueling the rumors with a number of videos titled “Shein will close in 2024.”
But there is no evidence to suggest Mr. Shayne is in any danger.
Shein was founded in Nanjing, China in 2008 and has been extremely popular ever since.
Originally called ZZKKO, it was founded by entrepreneur Chris Xu.
The company moved its headquarters from China to Singapore in 2022.
Shein has faced numerous controversies over the years, including being accused of antitrust violations by rival site Temu.
It has also faced multiple copyright infringement lawsuits, with H&M suing the retailer in 2023 for copying its designs.
Despite the legal issues, Mr Shein has reportedly filed for an initial public offering (IPO) in both the US and UK.
An IPO is a public offering that sells a company's shares to investors.
In February 2024, it was reported that executives from Chinese companies were in talks with Prime Minister Jeremy Hunt about visiting London.
As of March 2024, Shein has nearly 10,000 employees.
The site supplies customers in over 150 countries and has an estimated value of approximately £51bn.
How did Shane react to this hoax?
Shane responded to the hoax on TikTok.
The video-sharing app's official page uploaded a clip in January 2024 addressing this rumor.
In the short video, two employees can be seen laughing as the words “Shein will close in 2024” flash on the screen.
The clip was simply captioned, “Business as usual.”
The news was clearly welcomed by fans, as it has been liked over 730,000 times as of March 2024.
However, not all of Shein's followers seem to have gotten the joke, although many took it as confirmation that the site would indeed be shut down.
One fan wrote in the comments section: “All I can buy now is Shane,” while another wrote: “No, don't leave Shane alone.”
“Oh, what a relief,” one fan commented, while others took it as an intended denial.
Another reassured fellow posters: “I don't think it's going to close. They made that video laughing because it's not true.”
What are people saying about hoaxes?
Social media users have had mixed reactions to the rumors surrounding Shayne's closure.
Some expressed sadness that the online shop would indeed close.
At X, one shopper posted: “Why is Shein trending #1? Please don't tell me it's closing.”
Another added: “What do you mean Shine is closing this year?..Let's go get a cart.”
One person suggested it was time for the brand to end, with one posting: “I'm so glad SHEIN is closing! I'm tired of seeing the same shitty shirts and outfits. No shade.”
Another poster wrote, “Why are people on TikTok sad that Shein is closing this year? Isn't that a good thing?”