Chinese Sponsors Terminate Mbappé Contracts Over Alleged Insult
SingTao · 3 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
French football star Kylian Mbappé (also known in Chinese as Mbappé) faces a mounting boycott from Chinese sponsors and netizens after praising a meme featuring his face photoshopped onto late Chinese leader Mao Zedong. Multiple brands including Dongpeng Beverage Group and Mengniu Dairy announced termination of their partnerships on October 27, 2026, dealing a significant blow to his commercial standing in China. The controversy unfolded as Mbappé also suffered disappointment in losing the 2026 Ballon d'Or award.
Key Points
- Mbappé, playing for Real Madrid, was interviewed about his favorite meme and chose one with his face on Mao Zedong's portrait, calling it "the funniest"
- During a PlayStation gaming session with friends, Mbappé said he frequently used the Mao Zedong meme, referring to the former leader as "the Chinese dictator"
- Dongpeng Beverage Group issued a statement on October 27 condemning "actions that harm national feelings" and immediately ending all cooperation with Mbappé
- Mengniu Dairy, Miaokeluoduo, and the Swiss sports brand On also terminated their deals, with On deleting Mbappé-related content from its official Weibo account
- The sponsorship with Dongpeng began on April 20, 2026, lasting only six months before the termination
Why It Matters
The incident highlights the growing sensitivity of Chinese consumers and corporations to perceived insults against national leaders, and how quickly international celebrities can lose lucrative endorsement deals in the world's second-largest economy . For Hong Kong sports fans, the controversy underscores how footballers' off-field comments can rapidly escalate into diplomatic incidents affecting their commercial partnerships across the region.
The incident highlights the growing sensitivity of Chinese consumers and corporations to perceived insults against national leaders, and how quickly international celebrities can lose lucrative endorsement deals in the world's second-largest economy . For Hong Kong sports fans, the controversy underscores how footballers' off-field comments can rapidly escalate into diplomatic incidents affecting their commercial partnerships across the region.