Chinese Brands Cut Ties With Mbappé Over Dictator Remark

Kylian Mbappé is losing major commercial sponsors in China after a video surfaced in which he referred to the country's founding leader as a dictator. Beverage company Dongpeng, dairy firm Mengniu, and cheese producer Milkground announced on Tuesday that they are terminating their agreements with the France and Real Madrid forward. Each company issued a statement saying they oppose any words or actions that hurt national sentiment, though they did not explicitly cite the video in their formal notices.

The decision follows the viral spread of a clip from an interview conducted for the French online talk show The Bridge. In the footage, Mbappé is asked about his favorite meme. He responds by describing a video in which his face was placed on the body of a man in a blue suit. He identifies the figure as a Chinese dictator, a reference to Mao Zedong. The clip quickly circulated on X, prompting immediate reactions from brands that have featured the footballer in advertising campaigns ranging from electrolyte drinks to milk products.

Mbappé addressed the controversy directly on social media on Tuesday. He acknowledged that his comment was ill-judged and that he now understands it hurts many people in China and in Chinese communities worldwide. He apologized to everyone his words have upset, stating that his reaction was absolutely not his intention. He added that he has deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and he offered a sincere apology for the offense.

The backlash has extended beyond traditional consumer brands. The social media platform RedNote stated that its content partnership with Mbappé ended on December 31, 2024. The company announced it would remove related promotional materials, echoing the language used by the other firms in opposing conduct that hurts national sentiment. On Weibo, hashtags calling for a boycott of Mbappé and demanding he not visit China trended at the top of the platform, with users expressing anger at his remarks.

LaLiga, the governing body for Spanish football, also issued a statement on Tuesday. The league said it deeply regretted the offense caused by Mbappé's comments among Chinese fans. It clarified that the remarks were made in a personal capacity and do not represent LaLiga. The league apologized on behalf of itself and all its clubs, affirming its commitment to a relationship built over years with Chinese fans. LaLiga said it is working with partners in China to address the situation and will implement a protocol to promote respect for different cultures.

Mbappé has appeared in numerous advertising campaigns in China in recent years. One commercial for Dongpeng featured him delivering a slogan in Chinese. Another ad for Mengniu showed him alongside Lionel Messi. The current dispute highlights the commercial stakes for athletes operating in the Chinese market, where cultural sensitivity in public appearances is closely monitored by brands and consumers alike.