Mbappe loses Mengniu and Dongpeng over Mao meme

Kylian Mbappe has lost two of his largest commercial partners in China following a dispute over a viral meme. Mengniu, the country's top dairy maker, and Dongpeng, a leading beverage company, both ended their contracts with the French striker. The breakups came after clips of a television interview showed the player joking about an image that places his face on the portrait of Mao Zedong.

The controversy began when unverified video clips circulated on Chinese social media. In the footage, the Real Madrid forward called the meme his favorite and said he uses it often with friends. Although he did not say the name Mao Zedong out loud, the visual reference was obvious. The original clip has since been removed from the talk show's YouTube channel, but screenshots remained online.

The situation escalated on Monday night when the football forum Dongqiudi posted the comments. The forum called the remarks inappropriate and said they hurt Chinese public sentiment. Users quickly joined the online discussion, criticizing the player for earning money in the region while making comments they found offensive.

China's foreign ministry weighed in on the matter. Spokesperson Lin Jian said the ministry had noted the reports. She stated that words and actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will face opposition from society. Neither Mbappe nor the talk show has released an official statement to address the criticism.

The commercial impact has extended to television broadcasting. Reports indicate that state broadcaster CCTV is pausing its coverage of La Liga matches. The network has also deleted content related to the French player from its news applications. These moves signal how deeply the incident has affected the star's visibility in the country.

Mbappe has long carried the nickname the dictator in football circles. This label made him a common subject for internet jokes. In 2024, he sued a French influencer who used his name in a sandwich description. During the 2026 World Cup, teammate Ousmane Dembele called him Mobut, a reference to a former Congolese leader. In a September interview, Mbappe acknowledged the humor in these comparisons but noted they can reveal a lack of political awareness.

Mao Zedong founded Communist China in 1949. His leadership included periods of hardship during the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution. Despite that history, he remains a revered icon within the party. The recent comments have turned that sensitive status into a commercial and diplomatic issue for the footballer.