Mengniu and Dongpeng End Mbappé Contracts Over Mao Comments

Kylian Mbappé has lost two major corporate endorsements in China as brands responded to public criticism of his interview comments. Mengniu, the country’s largest dairy producer, and Dongpeng, a drinks manufacturer, both terminated their deals with the Real Madrid forward this week.

The decisions follow a viral video from the French talk show The Bridge. In the clip, Mbappé describes a meme featuring his face superimposed on an image of Mao Zedong as his favorite joke. He states that he uses the image with friends all the time. Although the original video is no longer on the show’s YouTube channel, screenshots have spread widely on Chinese social media.

Both companies issued statements citing hurt sentiments without explicitly naming the controversial clip. Mengniu said it firmly opposes words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people. Dongpeng used similar language, stating it has a zero-tolerance policy for behavior that offends national sentiments. The brands did not provide specific details about the financial terms of the terminated agreements.

China’s Foreign Ministry weighed in on the dispute. Spokesperson Lin Jian noted that words and deeds hurting the feelings of the Chinese people will meet opposition from all sectors of society. Neither Mbappé nor The Bridge has commented on the fallout as of this writing.

The backlash intensified after the Chinese football forum Dongqiudi labeled the comments inappropriate on Monday. Online users criticized Mbappé for profiting from the Chinese market while making remarks they found offensive. Some commentators on Weibo argued that international figures should show greater sensitivity to national sentiment.

Mbappé is widely popular in China and holds major endorsements. The nickname 'dictator' has long been used in football circles to describe his on-field control. In September, he told France Football that while he finds some memes light-hearted, they can reveal a lack of political awareness. He noted that being compared to historical figures who caused suffering is not always funny.

CCTV, China’s state broadcaster, is reportedly suspending La Liga matches and removing content related to the striker from its news apps. The move signals a shift in media coverage for the French forward in the region.