What do Kylian Mbappé and Hello Kitty have in common? They’ve both angered China
Mbappé apologized after brands cut ties and Chinese state media removed his content, while Sanrio ended a collaboration that drew 180 million Weibo views.
- Real Madrid forward Mbappé and Hello Kitty maker Sanrio faced swift backlash in China this week, forcing both to issue deferential apologies to mitigate business damage.
- Mbappé triggered outrage after discussing a meme of his face on former Chinese leader Mao Zedong, while Sanrio faced criticism for collaborating with Japanese spy drama VIVANT, which state media labeled anti-Chinese.
- Sanrio China reported revenue of $117 million in the first half of 2026, and a hashtag about the Sanrio apology racked up more than 180 million views on Weibo.
- Multiple brands cut ties with Mbappé, citing 'zero tolerance for any words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people,' while state media removed all content involving him and Sanrio discontinued its collaboration.
- 'These are the stakes of playing in China,' said Zak Dychtwald, founder of Bridgeworks Global, emphasizing that foreign brands must navigate historical and geopolitical sensitivities to avoid swift retribution.
11 Articles
11 Articles
It all started with a "meme." Invited by The Bridge, the show of his team-mate Aurélien Chuaméni, Kylian Mbappé tells with self-desir that his montage
What do Kylian Mbappé and Hello Kitty have in common? They’ve both angered China
By Jessie Yeung, CNN (CNN) — What do French soccer star Kylian Mbappé and the Japanese company behind Hello Kitty have in common? Before this week, very little. Now, they share the unenviable position of having angered Chinese fans and consumers – then having to quickly apologize and do damage control, with big earnings on
What do Kylian Mbappé and Hello Kitty have in common? At first glance, very little, but CNN sees a striking similarity. Both the French superstar and the Japanese brand Sanrio, behind the popular cartoon character, have angered Chinese fans. Both subsequently had to hastily apologize to limit the commercial damage.
At first glance, Kylian Mbappe and Hello Kitty not only have nothing in common, but they are also addressed to completely different target groups. Or maybe not? The French footballer and the famous cartoon, for different reasons each, have an entire country, China, against them. Both managed to anger Chinese fans and […] The article What do Kylian Mbappe and Hello Kitty have in common? Both angered China appeared first on Free Press.
What do French soccer star Kylian Mbappe and the Japanese company behind Hello Kitty have in common? Until this week, very little. Now, however, they share the not-so-pleasant position of having angered Chinese fans and consumers and then being forced to quickly apologize and try to […]
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