(Yicai Global) March 22 -- Intel has cut ties with the stand-up Chinese comedian hired to act as its laptop brand ambassador after her ‘sexist’ remarks provoked an undesired and unexpected reaction from its male customers, The Paper reported today, citing the US tech giant.

Yang Li’s punch phrase “Intel has a taste for laptops that is higher than my taste in men,” used to promote the firm's Evo-platform-based laptops in an ad campaign released on March 18, bombed.

A number of male netizens deemed her remarks to be sexist and complained, saying that they felt insulted and would refuse to use Intel products from now on. This then led to a backlash from women viewers who felt that the ad should be continued to protect women’s right of speech.

“Diversity and inclusion are an important part of Intel’s culture,” the California-based company said. “We fully recognize and value the diverse world we live in and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace and social environment for our stakeholders,” it added.

Intel has since removed all traces of Yang’s endorsement from its online store on Alibaba Group Holding’s Taobao platform.

Yang shot to fame last year with the line “men look so mediocre, yet they are so confident,” that she delivered in the popular online stand-up comedy show Rock and Roast. She has yet to respond to the Intel incident.

Editor: Kim Taylor