Chinese brands cut ties with French soccer star Mbappé over ‘Chinese dictator’ remark
Dongpeng, Mengniu and Milkground ended deals after a viral clip showed Mbappé discussing a meme that appeared to depict Mao Zedong.
- Chinese drinks giant Dongpeng Beverage and dairy producer Mengniu terminated all cooperation with Real Madrid and France forward Kylian Mbappe on Tuesday following online backlash over his comments about Mao Zedong.
- A circulating video showed Mbappe joking about an internet meme depicting his face photoshopped onto Mao, the country's founding leader whose image remains a social taboo in China.
- Dongqiudi, one of China's biggest online football outlets, said the remarks were "offensive to China and the Chinese people" and "have hurt the feelings of Chinese football fans." Dongpeng and Mengniu cited "zero-tolerance" policies toward behavior offending national sentiments.
- "Dongpeng Beverage ends cooperation with Mbappe" became the top-trending topic on Weibo as social media users urged the company to remove his image from energy drink bottles.
- In a French sports newspaper L'Equipe interview, Mbappe previously addressed memes depicting him as historical figures, noting that while some are funny, comparisons to individuals who caused historical damage are "less funny.
213 Articles
213 Articles
Two major Chinese companies, Dongpeng and Mengniu, have ended their collaboration with Kylian Mbappe after a video surfaced in which he was seen making jokes about Mao Zedong. The Chinese Foreign Ministry also reacted negatively to the French footballer's comments.
Several Chinese companies drop sponsorship of French footballer Kylian Mbappé after controversy.
Soccer star Kylian Mbappe has lost two Chinese sponsors after an alleged video circulated online in which the 27-year-old Frenchman said he was joking with friends about a photo of himself with his face altered to look like former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. The Chinese sponsors claim Mbappe has offended Chinese national sentiments. Even the Chinese Foreign Ministry has spoken out.
Several Chinese companies drop sponsorship of French footballer Kylian Mbappé after controversy.
Kylian Mbappé provoked the anger of several of his Chinese sponsors after a video published by the media TheBridge. In the latter, the French striker calls the former Chinese leader Mao Zedong "dictator". Results: three companies announced that they would end their collaboration with the player with immediate effect.
Football star Kylian Mbappe faces huge China backlash over ‘unacceptable’ remark
French football superstar Kylian Mbappe has been dropped by a string of major Chinese brands including the dairy giant Mengniu, amid intense backlash over an alleged offensive remark about China. “Mengniu firmly opposes and has zero tolerance for any words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people,” Mengniu said in a statement on Tuesday, as the firm announced it was immediately terminating “all partnerships” with Mbappe. On the sa…
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