Mbappé Apologizes as China Sponsors End Deals

French football star Kylian Mbappé has lost several Chinese sponsorships after a video circulated in which he appeared to joke about an online meme showing his face on the body of Mao Zedong. In the clip, apparently taken from a backstage interview with French-language talk show The Bridge, Mbappé says the image that made him laugh most showed him on the body of “a guy — I think he’s a Chinese dictator,” and that he would use it with friends online. The ABC says it could not verify the video’s authenticity and contacted the meme’s creator. The Bridge later removed the clip from its social media accounts, although it remained available on Reddit and in media reports. Mbappé apologised, describing his comment as “ill-judged” and saying he understood it had hurt people in China and Chinese communities elsewhere. He said he had not intended offence and expressed respect for Chinese people and their history. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the remarks and actions had hurt Chinese people’s feelings. Dongpeng Beverage Group, which had made Mbappé an ambassador for its electrolyte drink ahead of the World Cup, ended its partnership, as did dairy companies Mengniu and Milkground. Dongpeng said it had “zero tolerance” for conduct that hurt national feelings. The story gained wide attention on Weibo, where the topic recorded nearly 400 million views, though some users said they could not find an explanation for the backlash. Chinese sports platform Dongqiudi declined to translate the remarks, citing their offensive nature. The article notes that jokes about China’s leaders are generally taboo, and that YouTube, Instagram and Reddit are blocked in mainland China without VPN access. Chinese state media also reported that broadcasts of Spanish league matches would be suspended. La Liga expressed regret for the offence while stressing Mbappé spoke in a personal capacity. The article also recalls Mbappé’s earlier comments that dictator memes could be funny but that comparisons with figures responsible for mass suffering were troubling. Real Madrid had been contacted for comment.

Harry Kane was named the men’s Ballon d’Or winner at a ceremony in London, becoming the first English footballer in 25 years to receive the award. The 33-year-old Bayern Munich striker scored 73 goals in 65 appearances for club and country over the previous year, helping Bayern win a league and cup double. He also scored 12 goals for England, including six at the World Cup. Kane called the award especially meaningful because he could bring it home as an English winner in London. Kylian Mbappé finished second and Lamine Yamal third in the men’s voting. Yamal also won the young talent award for the third consecutive time. Alexia Putellas won the women’s Ballon d’Or for a third time, returning to the top after a ligament injury. She succeeds Spain team-mate Aitana Bonmati, whose season was ended by a leg break after winning the award for the previous three years. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente was named men’s coach of the year after leading the country to World Cup glory, while Barcelona’s Pere Romeu won the women’s coaching award. The Ballon d’Or was established by France Football in 1956, and journalists from the top 100 countries in FIFA’s rankings vote for the winner. The article also reports that Mbappé was dropped by two major Chinese brands after a video circulated in which he apparently joked about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. Drinks company Dongpeng cited its zero-tolerance policy toward conduct that offends national sentiments, while dairy producer Mengniu also ended its relationship with the Real Madrid and France forward.

Kylian Mbappé has lost sponsorship partnerships with Chinese drinks companies Dongpeng and Mengniu after a video circulated in which he apparently referred to a meme showing his face superimposed on former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. The companies said they were ending cooperation immediately, citing opposition to conduct that offends national sentiment or hurts the feelings of Chinese people. The video’s authenticity could not immediately be verified by AFP Fact Check. The controversy has drawn strong reactions on Chinese social media, where jokes about Mao are considered taboo. Dongpeng’s announcement became a top-trending topic on Weibo, and some users called for the removal of Mbappé’s image from the company’s products. Football outlet Dongqiudi also criticized the reported remarks. Mbappé, who has been popular among Chinese fans and is nicknamed “Guigui,” had appeared in advertising for Dongpeng and worked with Mengniu. The article notes that Mbappé had previously discussed memes portraying him as a military dictator. He said some were intended as harmless fun, but objected to comparisons with historical figures responsible for murder and widespread suffering. The backlash followed a day after he lost the Ballon d’Or to Harry Kane. The incident fits a broader pattern of commercial consequences for international sports figures who touch on politically sensitive subjects in China. The article cites former NBA player Dwight Howard’s reference to Taiwan as a country and Houston Rockets executive Daryl Morey’s support for Hong Kong protests. Morey’s 2019 tweet led China to suspend NBA sponsorship deals and stop broadcasting games for a year. It also notes Beijing’s claim that Taiwan is part of its territory and its threat to use force to bring the island under its control.

Kylian Mbappé has apologised to Chinese fans after a video circulated in which he appeared to joke about Mao Zedong, prompting anger on Chinese social media. The Real Madrid forward described his remark as “ill-judged” and acknowledged that it had caused offence. The article notes, however, that the video’s authenticity had not been immediately verified by AFP Fact Check. The controversy has already led to reported commercial and broadcast consequences. Three Chinese brands, including beverage company Dongpeng and dairy producer Mengniu, reportedly ended their relationships with Mbappé. China’s state broadcaster has also suspended broadcasts of Spanish La Liga matches and demanded an apology from Real Madrid. The video reportedly shows Mbappé discussing a meme that places his face over Mao’s, describing Mao as “some guy” who was a Chinese dictator. The dispute has drawn extensive attention online: a related hashtag reportedly received 430 million views on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform. The article presents the incident as an example of the risks international sports stars face when their remarks touch on China’s political history. Such comments can prompt a strong public response and produce significant commercial consequences. While Mbappé has apologised, the reported sponsor withdrawals and broadcast suspension indicate that the backlash has extended beyond online criticism.

Kylian Mbappe apologised after a video circulated online in which he appeared to joke about an internet meme showing his face edited onto an unnamed Chinese leader. Although he did not say Mao Zedong’s name, he referred to the person as “some guy” and “a Chinese dictator.” Mbappe said the remark was ill-judged, had hurt people in China and Chinese communities elsewhere, and was not intended to cause offence. He expressed respect for China and its history. The video was reportedly filmed in April and spread widely on social media after being shared by the French football podcast The Bridge. The controversy had commercial and institutional consequences. Chinese drinks company Dongpeng terminated its contract with Mbappe, and dairy producer Mengniu also ended its relationship with him. La Liga apologised to Chinese fans, stressing that Mbappe’s comments were made in a personal capacity and did not represent the league. Its president, Javier Tebas, said the organisation regretted the offence and was working with Chinese partners to address the situation. The article explains that jokes or satire about Mao, who led China from 1949 until his death in 1976, are widely considered taboo. Chinese media condemned the apparent remark, while state television reportedly stopped broadcasting matches and events involving La Liga and Mbappe, and advertisements featuring him were removed. The incident also prompted calls on Weibo to blacklist the player. China’s Foreign Ministry said words and actions that hurt the feelings of Chinese people would meet opposition from across society. The article presents the episode as a reminder of the limits of celebrity influence and the risks to commercial relationships when public figures offend audiences in China.

Kylian Mbappé has apologised for comments about a meme depicting him as Mao Zedong after the remarks provoked anger in China and led several Chinese companies to end or suspend partnerships with him. Speaking on the French talk show The Bridge, Mbappé described a meme that made him laugh and referred to its subject as a “Chinese dictator”; the clip then showed his face superimposed on an image resembling Mao. Mbappé said his comment was “ill-judged” and apologised to people in China and Chinese communities worldwide. Spain’s La Liga also expressed regret for the offence caused. The backlash gained momentum after the Chinese football forum Dongqiudi called the remarks inappropriate. The clip and meme spread on social media, with some users calling for a boycott of Mbappé and Real Madrid. Some posts blurred the meme or redacted the reference, leaving users asking what he had said. Brands including dairy producer Mengniu and drinks company Dongpeng issued statements opposing conduct that hurts Chinese national sentiment. State media reports said CCTV would stop showing La Liga matches and would not feature content about Mbappé. China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said such remarks would naturally face opposition from Chinese society. The article explains that Mao remains a particularly sensitive figure. Although his rule included the Great Leap Forward famine, which killed tens of millions, and the violent Cultural Revolution, the Communist Party continues to present him as a national icon. Jokes about Mao can therefore be viewed as challenges to both the party and its account of Chinese history. Mbappé’s “dictator” nickname comes from his considerable influence in football and has inspired jokes and memes. He has previously said some comparisons with historical dictators show a lack of political and human awareness, given the suffering those rulers caused. The story places the controversy in the context of China’s importance to international sports stars and the commercial consequences of online public backlash.

At least three Chinese companies have ended commercial partnerships with French soccer star Kylian Mbappe following the circulation of a video that appeared to show him joking about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. Dongpeng Beverage Group, dairy company Mengniu and cheese maker Milkground announced the decisions on Tuesday in similarly worded statements. Each said it opposed “any words and actions that hurt national sentiment,” though none specified the remarks as the reason for ending its agreement. The clip apparently shows Mbappe being interviewed before appearing on the French online talk show “The Bridge.” Asked about his favorite meme of himself, he describes a video featuring someone he thinks was “a Chinese dictator.” The clip then shows an edited image of Mbappe’s face on the body of Mao, who led the founding of Communist China. Mbappe’s representatives had not immediately responded to the Associated Press’s request for comment. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that words or actions hurting the feelings of Chinese people would naturally draw opposition across society. Social media platform RedNote also criticized such conduct, said its content partnership with Mbappe had ended in 2024, and announced it would remove related promotional materials. Mbappe’s RedNote account was barred from accepting new followers on Tuesday. The controversy has prompted visible backlash on Chinese social media. Hashtags about Dongpeng and other brands ending their partnerships with Mbappe topped Weibo’s trending list, alongside calls to boycott him. Some users expressed anger or urged him not to visit China. The article notes that Mbappe has had a prominent advertising presence in the country, appearing in campaigns for drinks, milk and cheese, including commercials with Chinese slogans and one featuring Argentine star Lionel Messi.

France and Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe apologized after a video circulated online in which he appeared to describe an image of himself as a Chinese dictator. The image was reportedly a meme showing Mbappe’s face on the body of Mao Zedong, founder of the People’s Republic of China and its leader until his death in 1976. The comments prompted a backlash in China, where public criticism and jokes about Mao remain politically sensitive. Mbappe has also been portrayed as authoritarian figures in memes about his perceived influence over teammates and club decisions, and has been nicknamed “the dictator” in European media. In a statement, Mbappe called his comment ill-judged, acknowledged that it had hurt people in China and Chinese communities around the world, and said he was sorry. He emphasized that he respected Chinese people and their history and that causing offense was not his intention. Three Chinese companies—beverage maker Dongpeng, dairy producer Mengniu and cheesemaker Milkground—ended their sponsorship partnerships with him. Their statements said they opposed words and actions that hurt national sentiment. China Media Group, which oversees state broadcaster CCTV, suspended broadcasts of Spain’s La Liga and removed advertisements featuring Mbappe. La Liga said the remarks were made in Mbappe’s personal capacity and did not represent the league, and apologized for the controversy. CCTV said it would consider the apology while also judging Mbappe’s future actions. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said remarks that hurt Chinese people’s feelings would naturally face opposition across Chinese society. The article explains the sensitivity surrounding Mao’s legacy. Mao remains revered by many in China, while his rule also included disastrous campaigns such as the Great Leap Forward, which contributed to a famine that killed tens of millions. The Communist Party acknowledges some of his mistakes but maintains that his achievements outweighed them, making criticism of his legacy politically sensitive.

Kylian Mbappé has apologised after a video circulated online showing him laughing at a meme that compared him to Mao Zedong, prompting two major Chinese sponsors to end their partnerships with him. In a statement published in French, Chinese and English, the Real Madrid forward called his comment “ill-judged” and said he understood it had hurt people in China and Chinese communities around the world. He apologised to those offended. Energy-drink company Dongpeng and dairy group Mengniu announced they were ending all cooperation with Mbappé with immediate effect. Dongpeng said it had zero tolerance for behaviour that offended national feelings. The companies’ decisions followed the clip’s spread across Chinese social media, where jokes about Mao, who died in 1976, are considered disrespectful. The comment reportedly came during an appearance on the French talk show The Bridge. Asked which online memes about him being a “dictator” amused him most, Mbappé reportedly said he laughed most at a video of a man he believed was a Chinese dictator. The programme then showed a meme with Mbappé’s face superimposed on an image resembling Mao. The “dictator” jokes are part of a broader online running gag about the footballer’s influence on and off the pitch. The sponsor withdrawals mark a sharp reversal for Mbappé, who had been popular with Chinese fans and had millions of followers on Chinese social platforms. During the year’s World Cup, Dongpeng adverts featuring AI-generated images of him drinking its energy drink were widely seen by Chinese viewers. The article also notes his affectionate Chinese nickname, “Guigui,” meaning “turtle,” which is connected to a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-inspired meme. The episode illustrates how political and national sensitivities can affect international sponsorships.

Kylian Mbappe has lost sponsorship partnerships with two major Chinese companies after a video circulated online in which he appeared to joke about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. Energy drink maker Dongpeng and dairy producer Mengniu each announced that they were ending their cooperation with the French footballer, effective immediately. Both companies said they oppose words or behavior that offend Chinese national sentiment or hurt the feelings of the Chinese people. The video shows Mbappe describing a meme he found funny: an image of his face edited onto that of “some guy” he thought was a Chinese dictator. The article identifies this as an apparent reference to a meme that superimposes Mbappe’s face on Mao’s image. AFP Fact Check said the video’s authenticity could not immediately be verified. The companies’ announcements drew attention on Chinese social media, where “Dongpeng Beverage ends cooperation with Mbappe” became the top-trending topic on Weibo. The article identifies Mbappe as a forward for Real Madrid and France, and reports that he was 27 at the time. It also notes that the sponsorship news followed his team’s 2-1 victory over Barcelona in the Clasico, in which he scored twice. Separately, Mbappe had lost out to Harry Kane for the Ballon d’Or the previous day. The report does not include a response from Mbappe or further details about the circumstances in which the video was recorded.

Kylian Mbappé apologized after a video circulated in which he appeared to describe Mao Zedong, the founding leader of Communist China, as a dictator. The French soccer star said his comment was ill-judged, acknowledged that it had hurt people in China and Chinese communities elsewhere, and expressed respect for Chinese people and their history. He said causing offense was not his intention. The remarks prompted a commercial response in China. Beverage maker Dongpeng, dairy company Mengniu, and cheese maker Milkground announced Tuesday that they were ending agreements with Mbappé. Their statements used similar language opposing words or actions that hurt national sentiment. The companies did not state specifically what had led them to end the deals, but their announcements followed the online circulation of the clip. The video appeared to show Mbappé being interviewed before an appearance on the French online talk show “The Bridge.” Asked about his favorite meme of himself, he recalled a video featuring a man he thought was a Chinese dictator. The clip then showed an edited image placing Mbappé’s face on Mao’s body. Online soccer fans have jokingly called Mbappé a dictator, and memes depicting him as Mao or other autocratic leaders are widely circulated. The article notes that the star is often seen as overshadowing teammates and even the teams he plays for. His prominent advertising presence in China—including ads in subway stations and elevators—underscored the commercial impact of the companies’ decisions.