Kylian Mbappe loses Chinese sponsorships after video sparks Mao Zedong controversy

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has lost partnerships with two major Chinese companies after a video in which he appeared to joke about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong triggered widespread anger in China.

Dongpeng, a drinks company, and dairy producer Mengniu announced on Tuesday that they were ending their cooperation with the France international. The decision followed comments attributed to Mbappe in a video that prompted intense discussion across Chinese social media.

Dongpeng said in a statement that it “strongly rejects any behaviour that harms national feelings” and operates a policy of zero tolerance towards such conduct. The company said it would immediately terminate all forms of cooperation with the 26-year-old.

Mengniu issued a similar statement shortly afterwards.

Video fuels online backlash

The controversy centres on footage in which Mbappe discusses the internet memes that have made him laugh most. He refers to an edited image that replaced his face with that of a figure he described as a “Chinese dictator” – a reference widely understood to concern Mao Zedong.

Agence France-Presse’s digital verification services were initially unable to confirm whether the video was genuine. However, anger grew after it circulated online, with critics accusing Mbappe of insulting China and its people.

Mbappe has a substantial following in China, where international football stars attract considerable attention despite the national team not having played at a World Cup since its only appearance, in 2002.

Comments about historical figures are particularly sensitive in the country, especially when they involve prominent political symbols. The reaction to the video has therefore extended beyond football discussion, with users questioning whether the remarks crossed accepted boundaries.

Calls for legal action

News that Dongpeng had ended its partnership with Mbappe became one of the most widely discussed topics on Chinese social media platform Weibo.

Some users called for legal action against the player and demanded compensation. One said they would not buy products from either company again unless legal proceedings were brought against Mbappe.

Another described the comments as “extremely serious and inappropriate”, arguing that they had gone beyond what could be considered acceptable.

Chinese sports website Dongqiudi also criticised the footage. It said the remarks amounted to an insult to China and the Chinese people and had hurt the feelings of football supporters in the country.

The sponsorship decisions represent a significant commercial consequence for Mbappe following the backlash, although the authenticity of the video had not initially been confirmed by AFP’s verification services.