Kylian Mbappé Dropped by Two Chinese Brands After Controversial Mao Zedong Video

Posted : 27 October 2026

Real Madrid and France forward Kylian Mbappé has lost sponsorship partnerships with two major Chinese companies following backlash over a viral video in which he appeared to make a joke about a Chinese historical leader. Beverage manufacturer Dongpeng and dairy giant Mengniu announced on Tuesday, October 27, that they were ending their commercial relationships with the football star.

Dongpeng said it would immediately terminate its cooperation with Mbappé, explaining that the company would not tolerate conduct it considered offensive to Chinese national sentiment. Mengniu issued a similar statement, declaring that it opposed comments or actions perceived as disrespectful to the Chinese people.

The controversy began after a video circulated online showing Mbappé discussing internet memes featuring his face edited onto images of historical figures. During the conversation, the French forward reportedly described his favourite meme as one depicting him as a Chinese dictator, an apparent reference to Mao Zedong, the founding leader of the People's Republic of China who died in 1976.

The authenticity of the video had not been independently verified by AFP Fact Check at the time of reporting. Nevertheless, the footage sparked widespread criticism on Chinese social media, with the issue becoming one of the leading trending topics on Weibo. Some users demanded that Dongpeng remove Mbappé's image from its products, while others argued that his remarks had crossed an unacceptable line.

The reaction reflects the sensitivity surrounding references to Mao in China, where jokes perceived as disrespectful towards the country's founding leader can provoke significant public criticism. Dongqiudi, one of China's prominent online football platforms, also condemned the remarks, saying they had offended Chinese football supporters and the wider public.

Mbappé had previously addressed internet memes comparing him with controversial historical figures in an interview with French sports newspaper L'Équipe in September. He acknowledged that some of the jokes could be amusing but expressed discomfort with comparisons to individuals associated with mass suffering and violence, stressing that he did not believe he had done anything to warrant such associations.

The sponsorship fallout comes shortly after the 27-year-old missed out on the 2026 Ballon d'Or, finishing behind winner Harry Kane. Despite his achievements on the pitch, the latest controversy has placed his commercial relationships in China under fresh scrutiny.

The decisions by Dongpeng and Mengniu represent a significant development in Mbappé's commercial activities in one of the world's largest consumer markets. Neither the footballer nor Real Madrid had publicly responded to the controversy in the reports available at the time of publication.

Kylian Mbappé Dropped by Two Chinese Brands After Controversial Mao Zedong Video

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