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Mbappé dropped by Chinese brands after Mao Zedong video
The Real Madrid forward was cut off by major Chinese sponsors after a video circulated showing him apparently joking about the former Chinese leader.
Kylian Mbappé has been dropped by major Chinese brands following a video that circulated online in which he apparently made a comment about Mao Zedong. Two companies identified as Dongpeng and Mengniu ended their deals with the French footballer after the video went viral and sparked backlash.
The video appears to show Mbappé saying that the funniest internet meme he had seen was one depicting his face imposed on that of a Chinese dictator. In the video, Mao Zedong is apparently referred to as a dictator, according to multiple accounts of the incident.
Mbappé apologised for what he described as an "ill-judged" comment in response to the controversy. The apology came after Chinese brands terminated their sponsorship arrangements with the player.
According to The Guardian, there were broader repercussions beyond the sponsor withdrawals. The state-run Chinese digital newspaper The Paper reported that public television was suspending broadcasts of matches from La Liga, the Spanish professional football league.
Chinese state media issued a warning about the footballer's apology, stating that it would be judged against his future actions, according to CNBC. The incident triggered what sources describe as an offence to national sentiments in China.