Mbappé Apologises as Chinese Brands Cut Ties Over Mao Remark
Kylian Mbappé has apologised for what he called an "ill-judged" comment about Mao Zedong, after Chinese companies began ending their deals with the France captain.
Dongpeng, a drinks company, and Mengniu, a dairy producer, both said they had ended all cooperation with Mbappé with immediate effect. The Guardian reported that cheese maker Milkground was also ending its work with him. Dongpeng and Mengniu's decisions became a trending topic on Weibo, one of China's biggest social media platforms.
The row started with a meme. Mbappé said the funniest meme he had seen was his own face placed onto "some guy – I think he's a Chinese dictator". The image was an apparent reference to a picture of Mao Zedong, the leader who founded the People's Republic of China and ran it until his death in 1976.
Mbappé then issued a statement. "My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world," he said. "I apologise to everyone my words have upset."
La Liga, the Spanish top-flight league, said his recent comments were made in a personal capacity and did not represent the league.
Sponsorship has been a big part of Mbappé's commercial life in China. Adverts showing AI-generated images of him drinking a Dongpeng sports drink were regularly shown in China during this year's World Cup. Mengniu had previously named Messi and Mbappé as its two brand ambassadors, and featured them alongside Lamine Yamal in a brand film.
For a global star, these deals are a major source of income beyond wages. A footballer's image is often worth as much to a sponsor as his performances on the pitch. That makes a fast break like this one unusually costly, and it leaves Mbappé, who is still one of the most recognisable players in the world, with a public apology and a lot of repair work ahead.
Neither Dongpeng nor Mengniu has said whether it will return to working with him, and the brands' statements gave no timetable for any change of position.
