Chinese Brands Drop Mbappé Over Mao Joke
Dongpeng, Mengniu and Milkground ended agreements with Kylian Mbappé on Tuesday. The move came after a clip circulated online in which he appeared to reference a Mao Zedong meme.
- In the clip, Mbappé calls his favorite meme one showing a Chinese dictator.
- The meme superimposes his face on an image resembling Mao.
- Mbappé never names Mao, and the video is gone from The Bridge's channel.
- AFP Fact Check could not immediately verify the video's authenticity.
Why it matters: Mbappé's face appears in ads across China, and the backlash now reaches beyond his sponsors. Jokes about Mao remain a social taboo in China.
- CCTV is suspending La Liga matches, according to The Paper.
- China's foreign ministry said such remarks would meet opposition across Chinese society.
How 12 sources split on this story
Center coverage, 7 sources: The center sees a fast-growing backlash, including state media and the foreign ministry, set against Mao's contested history and Mbappé's dictator nickname among fans.
Left coverage, 3 sources: The left sees the story as the latest case of foreign stars losing Chinese sponsors after touching political sensitivities, alongside past NBA controversies.
What’s next: Mbappé and The Bridge have not responded publicly. The Associated Press could not reach his representatives.
- RedNote said it would remove promotional materials from a partnership that ended in 2024.
- Is the circulating clip authentic, and when was it recorded?
- Will more Chinese brands or broadcasters cut ties with Mbappé?
- Will Mbappé address the remarks directly?
