Mbappe loses three Chinese brand deals over dictator remark

Kylian Mbappe, the Real Madrid forward, has lost commercial partnerships with three Chinese companies (Dongpeng Beverage, Mengniu, and Milkground) following backlash over a viral video in which he referred to Mao Zedong as a dictator. The companies announced the termination of their agreements on October 27, citing opposition to remarks they deemed offensive to Chinese national sentiment.

Dongpeng Beverage invoked a zero-tolerance policy towards behavior that offends national sentiment, while Mengniu expressed opposition to any words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people. Milkground also ended its commercial relationship with Mbappe.

The controversy arose from a video clip where Mbappe discussed his favorite meme, which included an edited image of his face on the body of a man he identified as a Chinese dictator, reportedly referring to Mao. The timing of the companies' announcements linked the sponsorship fallout to the controversy surrounding Mbappe's remarks.