Chinese brands cut ties with French soccer star Mbappé over ‘Chinese dictator’ remark
Chinese brands and state media cut ties after a video spread online, with Weibo backlash and 400 million views amplifying the fallout, reports said.
- 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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252 Articles
Algemeen Dagblad
tubantia.nlKylian Mbappé has caused bad blood in China with remarks in a podcast. The French star footballer appears to be joking about memes of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong, and that is absolutely not going down well there.
Mbappe in fresh controversy after losing 2026 Ballon d'Or to Harry Kane
Real Madrid forward, Kylian Mbappé, is facing controversy in China. According to Spanish media, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV has suspended its coverage of all LaLiga matches. The controversy stems from a video on The Bridge in which Mbappé jokes about an edited image portraying him as Mao Zedong, referring to a “Chinese dictator” without directly […] Mbappe in fresh controversy after losing 2026 Ballon d'Or to Harry Kane
A comment from the French player is creating a shock wave in China. In addition to state television having decided not to broadcast Spanish league games, several companies in the country, including the Dongpeng group of drinks and the dairy companies Mengniu and Milkground, have communicated the end of commercial cooperation with Mbappé, manifesting rejection for behaviors that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people
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 a meme that makes him laugh (it's a guy, I think it's a Chinese dictator) costs dear to the attacker of the Real. And for now not even the Blancos games will be broadcast by the Chinese TV
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