Mbappe apologises to China after Mao meme remarks cost him multiple sponsorship deals

Kylian Mbappe issued a public apology on Tuesday after multiple Chinese sponsors severed ties with the Real Madrid forward over remarks he made about a meme featuring the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong, triggering a swift and significant commercial backlash.

In a video whose authenticity Reuters has been unable to verify, Mbappe is heard describing the funniest meme he had seen of himself as one where his face was edited onto “some guy — I think he’s a Chinese dictator”, in an apparent reference to an image superimposing him over a photograph of Mao.

“During a recent interview, I reacted to an image of myself,” the 27-year-old France captain wrote on X. “My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world. I apologise to everyone my words have upset. This was absolutely not my intention. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry.”

In China, satire or jokes directed at Mao — the nation’s founding leader who ruled from 1949 until his death in 1976 — are considered deeply disrespectful and remain a firm cultural and political taboo.

Dairy companies Mengniu and Shanghai Milkground Food Tech, alongside beverage firm Eastroc, all confirmed they were ending cooperation with Mbappe with immediate effect. The firms stated they “firmly oppose and have zero tolerance for any words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.”

State newspaper China Daily described the episode as “a sharp reminder of the limits of celebrity influence”, while state-backed outlet Global Times noted that Chinese consumers were sending a clear message: “Respect is not optional; one doesn’t get to profit from China while disrespecting it.”

Mbappe is one of the world’s most commercially active athletes, with partnerships spanning sportswear brand On Holding, hotel group Accor, and toy manufacturer Lego. The loss of the Chinese deals represents a notable blow to his commercial portfolio.

He is not the first prominent sporting figure or brand to face a Chinese backlash. Fashion house Dolce & Gabbana, Swiss watchmaker Swatch, and the NBA have all previously drawn criticism from Beijing, Chinese media, and consumers over perceived slights.

Chinese state television also moved to suspend broadcasts of all La Liga matches and events in the wake of the controversy.