Pakistan, May 12 -- Chinese smartphone maker OPPO has apologised after an advertising campaign sparked official criticism over a joke referencing "two husbands," highlighting ongoing sensitivities in China around family values and social messaging in marketing.

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The controversy began when OPPO posted a promotional message on the social media platform Weibo, which read: "My mother has two 'husbands', one is my dad, the other is seen twice a year." The second reference was understood to be a celebrity admired by the fictional character in the ad.

Although the post was quickly deleted, it had already drawn widespread attention online and prompted criticism from author...