Mbappé’s Mao meme comment triggers Chinese sponsors to cut ties
Kylian Mbappé’s joke calling Mao a dictator led two Chinese partners to end their collaborations and remove his videos.
On Aurélien Tchouaméni’s podcast, football star Kylian Mbappé joked about a meme that combined his likeness with that of Mao Zedong, describing the Chinese leader as a dictator. The remark provoked a wave of criticism on Chinese social media, where references to Mao are highly sensitive. Eastroc Beverage, operating under the Dongpeng brand, issued a statement ending its partnership with Mbappé, citing zero tolerance for actions that offend national sentiment.
Mengniu Dairy, another major sponsor, also terminated its ambassador relationship with the player. In addition, several Chinese video platforms removed clips of Mbappé’s goals and interviews. The incident underscores the commercial risks foreign athletes face when navigating China’s political taboos.
Why it matters
The backlash shows how political sensitivities in China can abruptly end lucrative endorsement deals for global celebrities.
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