French football star Kylian Mbappe has lost two major Chinese brand partnerships after a video in which he apparently joked about former leader Mao Zedong triggered controversy, with drinks giant Dongpeng and dairy producer Mengniu announcing the immediate termination of their cooperation with the Real Madrid forward.
Both companies issued statements on Tuesday, October 27, saying they would no longer work with the 27-year-old France captain, citing opposition to words or actions they said offended national sentiments and hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.
Dongpeng Beverage said it had a zero-tolerance policy towards behaviour that offended national sentiments and announced that it was terminating all cooperation with Mbappe with immediate effect.
Mengniu, China’s largest dairy producer, issued a similar statement, confirming that it was ending its commercial relationship with the footballer.
The decisions followed the circulation of a video in which Mbappe reportedly described his favourite internet meme as one featuring his face photoshopped onto that of “some guy – I think he’s a Chinese dictator”.
The remark appeared to refer to a meme depicting Mbappe superimposed on an image of Mao Zedong, China’s founding leader, who died in 1976. Other versions of the viral meme also feature the footballer’s face placed on images of historical figures.
However, AFP Fact Check reported that the authenticity of the video could not immediately be verified, meaning the recording’s provenance remained uncertain as the controversy unfolded.
The story gained traction on Chinese social media, where “Dongpeng Beverage ends cooperation with Mbappe” became a top-trending topic on Weibo, reflecting the growing public attention surrounding the dispute.
Chinese sports platform Dongqiudi also reportedly declined to translate the interview, saying the relevant remarks involved harm to China and the Chinese people.
The commercial fallout comes despite Mbappe’s popularity among Chinese football fans and his visibility in the country’s advertising market. Dongpeng has used the France captain in promotional campaigns, including advertisements featuring AI-generated images of the forward drinking its sports drink.
Mengniu has also been associated with the footballer through commercial partnerships, making the termination of both relationships a significant development for his brand presence in China.
The incident highlights the commercial risks international athletes face when remarks involving politically sensitive historical figures generate backlash in major consumer markets.
Mbappe plays for Spanish giants Real Madrid and captains the France national team. He is also known among Chinese fans by the nickname “Guigui”, meaning “turtle”, linked to a popular internet meme inspired by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Neither the reported backlash nor the companies’ decisions establish that the video was authentic. The circumstances surrounding its recording and circulation therefore remain important to the story as the commercial consequences emerge.
It was not immediately clear whether other brands associated with Mbappe would reconsider their partnerships or whether the player or Real Madrid would issue a public response.
