Mbappé loses three Chinese sponsors after “Chinese dictator” remark

What triggered the three endorsement exits?

Dongpeng, Mengniu and Milkground said on Tuesday they were ending agreements with Kylian Mbappé after backlash over comments in which he apparently referred to Mao Zedong as a Chinese dictator. Each company said it opposed “any words and actions that hurt national sentiment.”

The Associated Press reported that the companies did not specify what prompted their decisions. AP also reported that their statements followed a clip circulated on X, which appeared to show Mbappé being interviewed ahead of going on the French online talk show “The Bridge.”

AP reported that the video showed Mbappé being asked about his favorite meme of himself. He replied that it was “a video someone made of a guy … I think he was a Chinese dictator.”

The video then displayed an altered image depicting Mbappé’s face on the blue-suited body of Mao Zedong. AP reported that online soccer fans had also joked about calling him a dictator and circulated memes showing him as Mao or other autocratic leaders. Some fans said he overshadows teammates and even the teams he plays for.

How did Mbappé and his sponsors respond?

In a statement Tuesday, Mbappé said: “My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world. I apologize to everyone my words have upset.” He continued: “This was absolutely not my intention. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry.”

AP reported that Mbappé’s face appears in ads across China, from subway stations to inside elevators. He has featured in advertising campaigns for products from electrolyte drinks to milk and cheese.

In one commercial for Dongpeng, Mbappé delivers a slogan in Chinese; in an ad for Mengniu, he appears alongside Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi, according to AP.

How did RedNote and Chinese officials respond?

RedNote joined the criticism in a separate statement. The platform said its content partnership with Mbappé ended on Dec. 31, 2024 and that it would “remove related promotional materials.”

RedNote opposed “any conduct that hurts national sentiment,” AP reported. The platform barred Mbappé’s account from accepting new followers Tuesday.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun said in response to a question about the controversy that “words and actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will naturally be met with joint opposition from all sectors of Chinese society.” The warning came as boycott calls circulated online.

Why did the Mao reference matter?

AP described Mao as a revolutionary who led the Communist Party during its crucial early days, won a civil war against the ruling Nationalist Party and then founded the modern People’s Republic of China.

AP reported that many people still revere Mao, even as he leaves behind a complex legacy of authoritarian rule. He led campaigns such as the Great Leap Forward, an industrialization project that led to a famine that killed an estimated 30 million people.

How did the boycott spread?

AP reported that Chinese social media users criticized Mbappé. Weibo’s trending list carried three labels tied to the backlash:

• “Dongpeng ends partnership with Mbappé” topped the ranking.
• “Several brands end partnerships with Mbappé” also topped it.
• “Football fans boycott Mbappé” trended as well.

Some users expressed anger at his remarks or told Mbappé not to come to China, AP reported. For Mbappé and his sponsors, additional Chinese brand exits could extend the commercial damage that followed three terminations and a Tuesday follower restriction. The Weibo boycott calls showed that the backlash had already reached beyond the three companies that announced the terminations.