Chinese Brands Sever Ties With Kylian Mbappé Following Controversial Remarks

Multiple major Chinese companies have terminated their professional partnerships with French soccer star Kylian Mbappé following comments he made regarding China's founding leader, Mao Zedong. The decision comes after a video clip circulated on social media, purportedly showing Mbappé referencing a meme of himself edited to look like the former Chinese leader, whom he referred to as a "dictator."

Impacted Partnerships

• Dongpeng: The beverage maker announced the end of its agreement.
• Mengniu: The dairy giant has ceased its association with the player.
• Milkground: The cheese producer has officially ended its contract.
• RedNote: The social media platform confirmed their content partnership concluded on December 31, 2024, and announced the removal of associated promotional materials.

Official Response and Context

The companies released nearly identical statements, asserting their opposition to "any words and actions that hurt national sentiment." Mbappé, who serves as the French national team captain, has been a prominent face in advertising across China, ranging from subway stations to digital elevator displays. Following the controversy, Mbappé’s account on RedNote has been restricted from gaining new followers.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun addressed the situation, stating that actions perceived to hurt the feelings of the Chinese people would face "joint opposition from all sectors of Chinese society." While the Associated Press reported being unable to immediately reach the player's representatives for comment, the backlash has been visible on social platforms like Weibo, where hashtags related to the terminated partnerships have trended significantly.

Public sentiment on Chinese social media appears largely critical, with some users calling for a boycott and expressing disapproval of the athlete's comments. Verification of specific contract details remains limited, as these companies have not publicly disclosed the exact legal terms of the terminations.