Kylian Mbappé faced backlash in China after joking about Mao Zedong in a podcast, leading to the loss of major brand deals and social media censorship.
Mbappé makes joke about Mao Zedong
Kylian Mbappé, a forward for Real Madrid and the France national team, faced significant backlash in China after making a joke involving Mao Zedong during a podcast appearance. Mbappé was invited to his teammate Aurélien Tchouaméni's podcast, where he discussed internet memes that amuse him. He mentioned a video montage that superimposed his face onto the body of Mao Zedong, stating he uses it frequently with his online friends in video games.Context of Mao Zedong in China
In China, historical figures, particularly Mao Zedong, the founder of the People's Republic of China in 1949, are subject to strict institutional respect. Describing Mao in a humorous or disrespectful manner is considered a serious offense. This cultural sensitivity plays a significant role in how public figures are perceived in the country.Commercial partnerships end
The incident led to immediate consequences for Mbappé's commercial partnerships. Eastroc Beverage (Dongpeng), a manufacturer of energy drinks, announced the end of its collaboration with Mbappé, stating it opposes any behavior that offends national sentiment and demonstrates zero tolerance for such actions. The company explained it was immediately terminating all collaborations with Mbappé.More brands sever ties
The impact spread to other industries, with the dairy giant Mengniu Dairy and the cheese product brand Milkground also ending their ambassador contracts with Mbappé. Beyond the financial repercussions, the incident caused significant image damage. Mbappé, who was previously very popular in Asia, is now facing digital isolation, with several major platforms removing his sporting achievements and interviews from their catalogs.Public reaction on Weibo
On the social network Weibo, the issue quickly became one of the most discussed topics. Many internet users demanded financial sanctions and legal action against Mbappé, threatening to boycott brands that continue to associate with him. The sports media Dongqiudi strongly condemned his statements as offensive.
