Chinese brands distance themselves from Mbappé after Mao remark
A comment about a meme prompts criticism of the French footballer in China and the removal of promotional material.
There is news on this story (Tuesday, 27 October 2026, 11:55): La Liga broadcasts suspended in China after Mbappé controversy
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Kylian Mbappé is facing criticism in China after commenting on a meme in which his face was placed over that of Mao Zedong. Chinese sports and news platforms and several brands have since distanced themselves from the footballer, international media report.
The comment came during an online interview in which Mbappé was asked about his favourite meme. According to reports, he said he found an image funny in which his face had been combined with that of Mao Zedong, China’s former leader. The clip then spread on Chinese social media.
The reaction was swift. Dongqiudi, a major Chinese sports platform, reportedly said it did not want to translate the remarks because they could be offensive to Chinese people. There were also reports that Chinese brands had removed promotional material featuring Mbappé or made it less visible.
The issue therefore affects not only a sportsman’s reputation, but also the commercial value of his presence in China. Mbappé has partnerships with brands and platforms in the country. Available sources report that those companies are under pressure, but do not make clear whether contracts have actually been terminated.
Sensitivity surrounding Mao is greater in China than in many European countries. Since 1981, the Chinese Communist Party has had an official assessment of Mao’s historical role, in which his achievements outweigh his mistakes. Criticism of him can be removed from Chinese platforms, but the precise consequences vary from case to case.
As far as is publicly known, Mbappé has not issued a formal statement explaining the comment or apologising for it. It therefore remains unclear whether the controversy will quickly fade or affect his commercial contracts. The case does show how international sports marketing can collide with differing political and cultural sensitivities.
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This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article’s central claims are confirmed by several public sources. The text distinguishes between removed advertising material and unconfirmed contract terminations.
- confirmed Mbappé discussed a meme featuring his face and Mao Zedong in an online interview. — Described by elDiario.es and NOWnews. source
- confirmed Dongqiudi refused to translate the remarks because they were considered offensive. — Reported by Fanzei.net and cited in other coverage. source
- confirmed Chinese brands removed promotional material featuring Mbappé. — Reported by NOWnews; termination of contracts has not been established. source
Editor's note
The comment and Dongqiudi’s reaction have been reported by several public sources. It has not been independently confirmed that all the sponsor contracts mentioned have been terminated.Sources
- Mbappé provoca un terremoto en su contra en China — elDiario.es
- Mbappé-sponsors verwijderen reclame na Mao-opmerking — NOWnews
- Dongqiudi refuses to translate Mbappé interview — Fanzei.net
The story so far
- Tuesday, 27 October 2026, 07:53 Chinese brands distance themselves from Mbappé after Mao remark (this article)
- Tuesday, 27 October 2026, 11:55 La Liga broadcasts suspended in China after Mbappé controversy
More on this in Dutch media
- NRC — „kylian mbappé”
- NU.nl — „kylian mbappé”
- De Telegraaf — „kylian mbappé”