Chinese brands cut ties with French soccer star Mbappé over ‘Chinese dictator’ remark
Chinese brands ended partnerships with the Real Madrid forward after a video linked him to a Mao meme, triggering backlash over national sentiment.
- 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.
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223 Articles
If not before, Mbappe learned about the greatness of the co-founder of the People's Republic of China now that he has lost two major sponsors.
A joke about an internet meme brings a lot of trouble to Kylian Mbappé in China. Several sponsors turn away from him, even protesting the Foreign Ministry. What did the French football star say?
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.
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