Mbappe apologises to China after three brands drop him over Mao Zedong remark

Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe has lost three Chinese brand partnerships after a viral video sparked outrage over a remark about Mao Zedong.

In Short

• Three Chinese companies ended their partnerships with France's Kylian Mbappe
• Mbappe had referred to former Chinese leader Mao Zedong as a dictator
• The France captain had built strong commercial appeal among Chinese fans

French football star Kylian Mbappe has apologised to the Chinese people after a viral video sparked a backlash over a remark about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. The apology came after three Chinese companies ended their partnerships with the Real Madrid forward, accusing his comments of hurting national sentiments.

"During a recent interview, I reacted to an image of myself. My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world," Mbappe said in a statement.

"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," he added.

Energy drink manufacturer Dongpeng Beverage, dairy giant Mengniu and cheese producer Milkground announced that they were terminating their associations with the France captain. The decisions followed widespread criticism on Chinese social media, where users accused Mbappe of disrespecting the country's national sentiments.

Dongpeng announced an immediate end to its partnership with Mbappe, citing its zero-tolerance policy towards behaviour that offended national sentiments. Mengniu issued a similar statement, saying it opposed words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people. Milkground also confirmed that it was ending its collaboration with the footballer.

WHAT LED TO MBAPPE BACKLASH IN CHINA?

The controversy centres on a video in which Mbappe discussed internet memes featuring his face superimposed on images of historical figures. Asked about his favourite meme, he reportedly described one featuring his face on the body of "some guy - I think he's a Chinese dictator". The remark appeared to refer to Mao, the founding leader of the People's Republic of China, who died in 1976.

The authenticity of the video had not been independently verified at the time of the initial reports. Nevertheless, the clip triggered a backlash online, with the topic of Dongpeng ending its association with Mbappe trending on Chinese social media platform Weibo. Some users called on brands to remove the Frenchman's image from their products.

The reaction reflects the sensitivity surrounding Mao's legacy in China, where remarks perceived as disrespectful towards the former leader can provoke strong responses. Mbappe's apology acknowledges the impact of his words while stressing that causing offence was not

Mbappe, 27, had been a popular figure among Chinese football fans, with his commercial appeal extending beyond the pitch. The controversy has also revived scrutiny of the memes depicting the forward as authoritarian leaders. In an interview with France Football in September, Mbappe acknowledged that some of the memes were intended as jokes but expressed discomfort with comparisons to historical figures associated with mass suffering.

The latest developments underline the commercial risks international sports stars face when remarks are perceived to offend sentiments in major markets. For Mbappe, the loss of the Chinese partnerships comes at a time when he remains one of football's most recognisable global figures.

The sponsorship fallout also follows a significant night at the Ballon d'Or ceremony in London on Monday. Mbappe finished second in the men's voting, behind England captain Harry Kane, who became the first Englishman in 25 years to win the award. Barcelona's Lamine Yamal finished third.

Kane's victory followed a prolific 2025-26 campaign in which he scored 73 goals for club and country, helping Bayern Munich retain the Bundesliga title as part of a domestic treble.

Mbappe, meanwhile, missed out on the sport's most prestigious individual honour, adding a second-place finish to a week now overshadowed by the controversy in China.

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