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French football star Kylian Mbappé has suffered a major commercial setback in China after beverage company Dongpeng and dairy producer Mengniu announced the termination of their partnerships with the Real Madrid forward over a controversial remark about a meme depicting former Chinese leader Mao Zedong.
The controversy erupted after a video circulated online showing Mbappé discussing an internet meme featuring his face edited onto the image of a Chinese leader. During the conversation, the 27-year-old reportedly described the figure as a Chinese dictator, a comment that triggered widespread criticism among Chinese football fans and social media users.
Dongpeng Beverage announced on Tuesday that it would immediately end all business arrangements with the French international, stating that the company would not tolerate conduct considered offensive to national sentiments. Mengniu, one of China’s leading dairy producers, subsequently issued a similar statement, confirming its decision to discontinue its relationship with the footballer.
The development generated intense reactions on Chinese social media, where several users condemned the remarks and called for brands associated with Mbappé to remove his promotional materials. The controversy also attracted attention from Chinese football platform Dongqiudi, which criticised the comments, describing them as offensive to Chinese people and football supporters.
The video reportedly originated from an interview in which Mbappé discussed memes featuring him alongside historical figures. Although the footage showed him referring to a Chinese dictator, the authenticity of the circulating clip could not immediately be independently verified by AFP Fact Check.
Mbappé’s representatives had not publicly responded to the controversy at the time of reporting. The incident has raised fresh concerns about the commercial consequences international sports personalities may face when remarks made during interviews generate backlash in major markets where they have endorsement agreements.
