Chinese Brands Drop Mbappé Over Dictator Remark

Kylian Mbappé’s commercial empire in China fractured on Tuesday after three major brands announced they were ending their agreements with the Real Madrid forward. The decisions followed a video in which Mbappé referred to Mao Zedong, the founding leader of the People’s Republic, as a dictator. The move signals a sharp reversal for the star, whose image had been a constant presence in Chinese advertising campaigns for years.

Beverage maker Dongpeng, dairy giant Mengniu, and cheese producer Milkground issued statements on Tuesday. Each company used nearly identical language, declaring that they opposed any words or actions that hurt national sentiment. The firms did not specify the exact trigger for their decisions in the releases. However, the announcements came shortly after a clip from an interview with the French online talk show The Bridge circulated widely on X.

In the video, Mbappé is asked to identify his favorite meme of himself. He describes a video created by an individual he believes was a Chinese dictator. The clip then shows an altered image placing Mbappé’s face on the body of Mao Zedong, who is depicted wearing a blue suit. The visual juxtaposition fueled the controversy before Mbappé’s public apology.

Mbappé took to social media on Tuesday to address the backlash. He stated that his reaction to the image was ill-judged and that he now understands his words upset many people in China and in Chinese communities worldwide. He apologized to everyone affected, clarifying that his comment was not intended as an insult. He expressed deep respect for the Chinese people and their history while offering sincere regret for the situation.

The social media platform RedNote also responded to the incident. The company announced that its content partnership with Mbappé had concluded on December 31, 2024. It stated it would remove related promotional materials and joined the chorus opposing conduct that hurts national sentiment. This added a digital dimension to the corporate retreat from the footballer’s brand.

Mbappé’s presence in Chinese advertising had been extensive. He featured in campaigns for electrolyte drinks, milk, and cheese. In one commercial for Dongpeng, he delivered a slogan in Chinese. In a separate spot for Mengniu, he appeared alongside Lionel Messi. These partnerships were central to his commercial reach in the region before the recent comments.

Reactions on Chinese social media intensified the pressure on Mbappé. Hashtags noting that Dongpeng and other brands were ending their partnerships topped the trending list on Weibo. A separate trend for a football fan boycott of Mbappé also gained traction. Many users expressed anger at his remarks, with some telling him not to visit China in the future.

LaLiga, the Spanish professional football league, issued a statement on Tuesday to distance itself from the comments. The league expressed deep regret for the offense caused among Chinese fans. It clarified that the comments were made in a personal capacity and did not represent the organization. LaLiga apologized on behalf of itself and its clubs, citing its commitment to respect and coexistence among cultures.

The league said it was working with partners and institutional interlocutors in China to address the situation. It announced plans to implement a protocol for awareness and communication with clubs and players. This protocol aims to promote respect for different cultures and help prevent similar incidents in the future.

The fallout from the interview has reshaped Mbappé’s standing in the Chinese market within days. Three major food and beverage companies have cut their ties, and the social media platform RedNote has moved to clean up its promotional history with him. LaLiga has formally apologized, and trending topics on Weibo continue to reflect the public mood. The commercial landscape for the Ballon d’Or winner in China has changed dramatically since the video first appeared.