The logo of Asian e-commerce giant Shein on the facade of the BHV department store in Paris on November 3, 2025, just days before it opens its first physical store at BHV in Paris. JULIE SEBADELHA / AFP
Asian e-commerce giant Shein said on Monday, November 3, it was banning all sex dolls from sale on its sites after French authorities condemned it for featuring ones resembling children. France's finance minister had threatened to ban the retailer from the country if it resumed selling the childlike dolls, just days before it opens its first physical store in Paris.
France's anti-fraud unit reported on Saturday that the company was selling "childlike" dolls of a likely pornographic nature. French daily Le Parisien published a photo of one of the dolls sold on the platform, accompanied by an explicitly sexual caption. It measured around 80 centimeters in height and held a teddy bear.
Shortly after the fraud watchdog's statement, Shein announced the dolls had been withdrawn from its platform and it had launched an internal inquiry. It later announced in a statement it was imposing a "total ban on sex-doll-type products" and had deleted all listings and images linked to them.
A spokesperson told Agence France-Presse the ban applied globally. "These publications came from third-party vendors, but I take personal responsibility," said Shein's chief executive, Donald Tang.
