Kylian Mbappé Faces Brand Fallout Over Meme Comment About Chinese Leader

Kylian Mbappé, the French forward who is a key player for Real Madrid, has experienced significant backlash in China after seemingly referring to Mao Zedong as a “dictator”. This incident arose from a resurfaced video where he discusses his favorite meme, which shows his face on Mao’s body. His comments have led to outrage among Chinese audiences and stakeholders.

In response, three major Chinese brands—Dongpeng, Mengniu, and Milkground—have ended their sponsorship agreements with Mbappé, stating their opposition to any comments undermining national sentiment. Additionally, China’s state media has reportedly ceased broadcasting LaLiga matches, and the Foreign Ministry emphasized that actions offending the Chinese populace will draw collective disapproval. Mbappé issued an apology, expressing regret for his words and reaffirming his respect for Chinese culture.