Mbappe Drops Two Chinese Partners After Apology for Meme Remark

Kylian Mbappe lost two major sponsorship contracts in China on Tuesday after a video surfaced showing him making a comment about a former Chinese leader. The French forward apologized for the remark, which he described as ill-judged, and said he understood the pain his words caused fans in the country. The loss of these deals ends commercial partnerships that had given him wide visibility in the Chinese market.

The video, verified by Al Jazeera, appears to have been filmed in April. It shows Mbappe preparing to appear on a broadcast. The clip was shared on Monday by the French football podcast The Bridge and quickly spread across social media. In the recording, Mbappe jokes about an internet meme featuring his face edited onto the image of a man he identifies as a Chinese dictator. He does not use the name Mao Zedong in the clip.

Mbappe addressed the incident in a statement published on his social media accounts in French, Mandarin, and English. He stated that he reacted to an image of himself during the interview. The 27-year-old said he apologizes to everyone his words upset and that the offense was not his intention. He expressed deep respect for the Chinese people and their history.

Dongpeng, a major Chinese beverage company, terminated its contract with Mbappe immediately. The company said it maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward behavior that offends national sentiments. During this year's FIFA World Cup, advertisements featuring AI-generated images of Mbappe drinking Dongpeng sports drinks were displayed frequently in China. Mengniu, China's largest dairy producer, also cut ties with the player. Until this week, Mbappe had millions of followers on Chinese social media platforms.

La Liga issued an apology on behalf of the league and Real Madrid. The Spanish league stated that the comments were made in a personal capacity and do not represent La Liga. League president Javier Tebas posted on X that the organization deeply regretted the discomfort caused in China. Tebas wrote that La Liga is working directly with partners in the country to resolve the situation. He noted that a relationship built over many years should not be damaged by a single episode.

Chinese state media outlets condemned the remarks but largely avoided repeating the specific words. China Daily described the incident as a reminder of the limits of celebrity influence. The Global Times, a state-backed newspaper, stated that Chinese consumers expect respect from international figures. The outlet wrote that one does not get to profit from China while disrespecting it. State television halted broadcasts of all La Liga matches and events involving Mbappe. Advertisements featuring the player were also removed from air.

A spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs commented on the incident. The official said that words and actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will naturally meet with joint opposition from all sectors of society. As of 07:00 GMT on Tuesday, four topics related to Mbappe were among the top ten trending searches on Weibo. Some users on the platform called for China to blacklist the player and reduce his commercial value to zero. These posts received hundreds of likes.

Mbappe has ties to several global firms, including On Holding, Accor, and Lego. He is one of the most prominent athletes in the world. The incident follows a pattern of sports stars facing backlash in China over perceived slights. In China, jokes about Mao Zedong, who ruled the country from 1949 until his death in 1976, are considered a social taboo.