Deals end immediately: Kylian Mbappe loses Chinese sponsors after calling Mao a dictator in viral video

Brands end their partnerships

Dongpeng, a drinks company, announced on Tuesday that it was ending its cooperation with Mbappe. The company said it opposed conduct that offended national sentiment and had no tolerance for it.

Mengniu, China’s largest dairy producer, also said it was terminating its relationship with the Real Madrid forward. Before the video spread, Mbappe had been highly popular with Chinese fans and had millions of social media followers.

Video prompts criticism

In the video, Mbappe apparently said the funniest internet meme he had seen showed his face digitally placed over that of “some guy – I think he’s a Chinese dictator”. The comment appeared to refer to a meme depicting him as Mao Zedong, one of several that pair his face with historical figures.

A Weibo user called the remarks unacceptable and said they had crossed a red line. Dongqiudi, a major Chinese online football outlet, said the comments offended China and its people and had hurt the feelings of football fans.

Other China-related disputes

The controversy followed Mbappe’s loss to Harry Kane for the Ballon d’Or, football’s most prestigious individual award. In 2019, Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey posted support for Hong Kong protests. China responded by suspending NBA sponsorship deals and removing games from Chinese television for a year.