Kylian Mbappe Loses Chinese Sponsorships After Controversial Remarks About Mao Zedong

TEHRAN, Oct 27 (OPA) — Kylian Mbappe, 27, faced immediate commercial consequences after a video from a French talk show surfaced this week. During the interview, Mbappe discussed an internet meme that superimposes his face onto images of historical figures, including the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong. While the player described the meme as a joke he shares with friends, the reference sparked widespread outrage across Chinese social media platforms, leading to the removal of the video from the program's YouTube channel.

Dairy producer Mengniu and beverage company Dongpeng both announced the immediate termination of their endorsement contracts with the footballer. In statements posted to the Chinese social media platform Weibo, both companies cited a zero-tolerance policy toward remarks that offend national sentiment. The Chinese Football Association has also lodged a formal diplomatic protest with Real Madrid, demanding a public apology from the club regarding the conduct of its player.

In response to the mounting pressure, Mbappe released a statement in French, Mandarin, and English, characterizing his previous comments as ill-considered. He expressed regret for the offense caused to the Chinese public and reaffirmed his respect for the nation’s history. The meme in question, which has circulated online since 2024, gained significant traction during the international football tournaments held earlier this year, frequently depicting the athlete alongside various authoritarian figures.

La Liga President Javier Tebas and the league organization issued separate apologies to Chinese fans, emphasizing that Mbappe’s personal remarks do not reflect the values of Spanish football. The league announced plans to implement new communication protocols for players to promote cultural sensitivity. Meanwhile, the Chinese Football Association stated it would leverage international platforms to advocate for mutual respect in sports exchanges, signaling that the incident remains a sensitive diplomatic issue.