Part 8/9:
Amidst these challenges, JD.com’s founder Richard Liu remains a controversial figure. Liu's reputation has been tainted by past scandals, including a significant 2018 sexual misconduct allegation that brought global media attention. Recently, footage of him making disparaging comments about employees sparked uproar among staff, who felt marginalized amidst a backdrop of widespread layoffs. His leadership decisions are under scrutiny as employees assess how their company’s declining conditions reflect on wider societal trends within the e-commerce industry.