Mbappé Loses Chinese Sponsors After Mao 'Dictator' Remark

Kylian Mbappé issued an apology after Chinese brands Dongpeng and Mengniu terminated their sponsorship agreements with the Real Madrid forward following a viral video in which the French soccer star appeared to describe Mao Zedong as a dictator.

The video shows Mbappé discussing an internet meme — his face digitally superimposed on an image of the late Chinese leader — and referring to the subject of the meme as "some guy – I think he's a Chinese dictator." The clip spread rapidly across social media, drawing sharp criticism in China, where Mao remains a revered founding figure of the People's Republic.

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The commercial fallout extended beyond lost sponsorships. State-run Chinese digital newspaper The Paper reported that public television was suspending broadcasts of La Liga matches, the top-flight Spanish soccer league in which Mbappé competes for Real Madrid. The potential blackout signals how swiftly a single offhand comment can escalate into a diplomatic and commercial dispute in China's tightly controlled media environment.

Mbappé's situation underscores the financial stakes global athletes face when navigating commercial relationships with Chinese partners. Brands operating in China are highly sensitive to perceived slights against national symbols or historical figures, and swift terminations of endorsement deals have become a common response to controversies involving foreign celebrities.

The episode adds to a growing list of instances in which Western sports figures and organizations have faced serious commercial consequences in the Chinese market over politically sensitive remarks. No further details on the scope of Mbappé's apology or whether the brands might reconsider their decisions were immediately available. Continue reading at Business | The Guardian.