Mbappé loses Chinese sponsors after calling Mao Zedong a 'dictator'

Kylian Mbappé has lost several major Chinese sponsors after describing Mao Zedong as a “dictator” during an episode of a podcast hosted by his Real Madrid teammate Aurélien Tchouaméni. The French striker, discussing memes that amuse him most, mentioned with a smile a video montage placing his face on the body of the founder of the People’s Republic of China.

“The one that made me laugh the most is when they put a video of some guy, a Chinese dictator I think, with my head. I use it a lot with my friends online, playing video games,” he said, himself acknowledging his lack of knowledge on the subject. In a country where historical figures — and Mao in particular — are subject to strict institutional respect, the remark was perceived as a serious offense.

The commercial reaction was immediate. The very next day, energy drink manufacturer Eastroc Beverage (Dongpeng) announced the termination of its contract. “We firmly oppose any behavior that hurts national sentiment and we have zero tolerance for this. We are ending, effective immediately, all collaboration with Kylian Mbappé,” the company stated in a press release.

The domino effect quickly spread to other sectors: dairy giant Mengniu Dairy and cheese brand Milkground also terminated their ambassador contracts with the France captain.

Beyond financial losses, the reputational damage is considerable. Several Chinese digital platforms removed the player’s sports videos and interviews from their catalogs. Sports media outlet Dongqiudi publicly condemned his statements, while on social network Weibo, the matter quickly dominated trending topics. Many internet users called for financial sanctions and legal action, threatening to boycott all brands maintaining a partnership with Mbappé.

Until this incident, the Real Madrid striker enjoyed strong popularity in Asia. The crisis illustrates the extreme sensitivity surrounding the founding figures of the People’s Republic, and the immediate commercial consequences that can result, even unintentionally, from any statement perceived as disrespectful toward them.