Real Madrid and France forward
The incident began when Mbappe commented on a digital image of himself that had been edited to feature his face on the body of a Chinese leader. During the interview, he described the image as the funniest meme he had seen, referring to the figure as a Chinese dictator. The remarks triggered widespread criticism, as references to Mao Zedong, who died in 1976, remain a sensitive subject in China.
Commercial Fallout and Institutional Response
The reaction from the Chinese market was swift and decisive. Beverage company Dongpeng, which had recently featured the French captain in its FIFA World Cup advertising campaigns, announced the immediate termination of its contract. In a public statement, the company cited a zero-tolerance policy toward any actions that offend national sentiments. Similar measures were taken by dairy giant Mengniu and cheesemaker Milkground, both of which ended their associations with the star.
The repercussions extended beyond individual brand deals. According to reports from the state-run outlet The Paper, there have been indications that public television networks in China may suspend the broadcasting of La Liga matches. In response to the growing tension, La Liga issued an official statement expressing deep regret for the offence caused to Chinese fans, while clarifying that the player’s comments were made in a personal capacity and did not reflect the views of the league.
Public Apology and Social Media Impact
Addressing the controversy on Tuesday evening, Mbappe released a statement acknowledging the gravity of his words. He explained that his reaction during the interview was ill-judged and expressed an understanding that his comments had caused hurt to many people within China and the wider Chinese community. The player’s apology follows a period of intense public scrutiny, with the news of Dongpeng ending their cooperation becoming a major trending topic on the social media platform Weibo, accumulating over 430 million views.
