French soccer star Kylian Mbappé faced a backlash in China on Tuesday after he made comments apparently referring to Mao Zedong, the founding leader of the People’s Republic of China, as a "Chinese dictator." At least three major Chinese companies announced they were ending their endorsement agreements with the athlete following the remarks.
The controversy stemmed from a video clip circulating on the social media platform X, which showed Mbappé being interviewed ahead of an appearance on the French talk show "The Bridge." In the footage, Mbappé identified his favorite meme as a video depicting his own face superimposed on the body of Mao Zedong, whom he described as a "Chinese dictator."
On Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, beverage company Dongpeng, dairy producer Mengniu, and cheese manufacturer Milkground released statements declaring the termination of their partnerships with Mbappé. The companies stated they oppose actions that "hurt national sentiment." Additionally, the social media platform RedNote announced it would remove promotional materials featuring the soccer star, noting that their formal partnership had already concluded at the end of 2024.
The decision by the Chinese corporations affects Mbappé’s commercial standing in the country, where his image has been prominent in subway stations, elevators, and residential buildings. The scale involves some of China's largest consumer brands, including a dairy giant and a major beverage maker. Mbappé’s likeness had appeared in advertisements for electrolyte drinks, milk, and cheese products.
The incident highlights the commercial risks faced by international athletes and public figures when making statements regarding Chinese political history or leadership. Promotional content is being removed from platforms like RedNote, and Mbappé’s account on that service stopped accepting new followers on Tuesday. These actions follow what Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun described as "joint opposition" from Chinese society, stating that hurting the feelings of the Chinese people would naturally lead to such responses.
The removal of advertisements was reported across Chinese cities and hashtags such as "Football fans boycott Mbappé" trended on the Chinese platform Weibo. The Associated Press was unable to reach Mbappé's representatives for comment. No specific court dates or legal filings were reported in connection with the contract terminations.