Several Chinese companies have ended business relationships with Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé after remarks attributed to him during a French talk show interview drew criticism on social media. According to unverified clips circulating online, Mbappé referenced a meme featuring his face superimposed on an image associated with Mao Zedong, though he did not explicitly name the historical figure. The original broadcast content has been removed from the show’s official platform, but screenshots have spread across Chinese social networks.
China’s foreign ministry responded to the controversy through spokesperson Lin Jian, stating that comments perceived as disrespectful to the Chinese people would face opposition from multiple sectors of society. Chinese football forum Dongqiudi brought widespread attention to the remarks, describing them as inappropriate and harmful to Chinese sensibilities. Online discussion intensified, with critics arguing that Mbappé had profited substantially from endorsements in China while making comments seen as demeaning to the country.
The commercial consequences have been swift. Mengniu, the nation’s largest dairy producer, and beverage company Dongpeng both announced contract terminations, citing zero-tolerance policies toward behavior deemed offensive to national sentiment. State broadcaster CCTV has suspended La Liga coverage, and the network’s news applications removed content related to the French athlete, according to state media reports.
Mbappé has become a target for memes in sports circles due to a nickname calling him “the dictator” — a reference to his substantial influence over operations at both club and international levels. In a September interview, the player acknowledged awareness of such memes but expressed discomfort with comparisons to historical authoritarian figures, citing concerns about trivializing their documented human rights abuses. Neither Mbappé nor the talk show have issued formal statements regarding the current controversy.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI