Mbappé Loses Chinese Sponsors After Mao Zedong Dictator Remark
Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé apologized after Chinese brands cut ties and state TV suspended La Liga broadcasts over his viral Mao comment.
Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé issued a public apology after two major Chinese brands severed sponsorship deals with him following remarks he made about Mao Zedong in a widely circulated video, triggering a swift and sweeping backlash from one of world soccer's most commercially significant markets.
The video shows Mbappé describing the funniest internet meme he had encountered featuring himself — his face digitally superimposed onto what he called "some guy – I think he's a Chinese dictator." The clip was an apparent reference to an online meme placing Mbappé's likeness over an image of Mao Zedong, the founder of the People's Republic of China whose legacy remains a politically sensitive subject in the country.
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Dongpeng, a beverage company, and Mengniu, one of China's largest dairy producers, both announced the termination of their agreements with the French international following the controversy. The speed of their decisions reflects how acutely consumer brands operating in China respond to perceived slights against national figures or symbols.
The fallout extended beyond commercial partnerships. The Paper, a state-run Chinese digital newspaper, reported that public television would suspend broadcasts of matches from La Liga, Spain's top football division. The move signals potential institutional consequences for the league itself, not just the player, underscoring the geopolitical dimensions that sports figures increasingly navigate in global sponsorship environments.
Mbappé's apology marks a high-profile illustration of the risks elite athletes face when offhand remarks intersect with the political sensitivities of major markets. Continue reading at Business | The Guardian.
