Kylian Mbappé loses Chinese sponsors after Mao joke

The French national player Kylian Mbappé has, after a video circulating on the internet in which he mentions a meme with the face of Chinese dictator Mao Zedong, immediately lost two Chinese sponsors. The sports drink manufacturer Dongpeng and the dairy group Mengniu ended their partnership with the Real‑Madrid‑striker.

Controversial meme triggers sponsor loss

In the clip, which went viral in China, Mbappé is asked which the funniest meme he has ever seen is. He replies that the meme shows his face on the head of a Chinese dictator, referring to Mao Zedong.

The sports drink manufacturer Dongpeng, whose brand Dongpeng Beverages sells Mbappé's likeness, said in a statement that the company has a zero‑tolerance policy towards any behaviour that offends national sentiments. Dongpeng emphasized that the decision is effective immediately.

The dairy group Mengniu joined the reaction and announced that it would terminate any collaboration with Kylian Mbappé with immediate effect. Mengniu stressed that it strictly rejects any words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.

On the Chinese platform Weibo, the end of the partnership became one of the most discussed topics. Users commented on the swift reaction of the two companies and debated the limits of humor in China.

Despite his popularity as a promotional figure, Mbappé's image in China is now delicate, because political references there are especially sensitive. So far, neither the player nor his representatives have publicly commented on the incident.